Ever wondered how people get their names? Sometimes it is after a grandparent, sometimes after a film star, and sometimes… the story is so unusual it leaves you smiling in disbelief.
That is exactly what happened when comedian and YouTuber Aishwarya Mohanraj shared the unexpected story behind her name. What began as a nostalgic tale from her mother’s school days unfolded into a twist worthy of a theatre curtain call—and the internet could not get enough of it.
Taking to Instagram, Mohanraj posted a video revealing how she was named Aishwarya. “Aishwarya Rai became Miss World in 1994 and I was born in 1994, so obviously people assume that I was named after her. But I was born on July 26, and she became Miss World on November 19, so I was not named after her,” she explained.
Then came the real story.
“When my mom was young, she used to attend ‘Bal Vikas’ classes where they taught about gods, prayers, scriptures, and good values. Every year, they’d put up a value-based play with songs, dances, and drama. When my mom was 14, she took part in one such play. One of the characters was Mother India, played by a nine-year-old girl named Aishwarya,” Mohanraj shared.
It was the first time her mother had heard that name—and she instantly fell in love with it. The little girl playing Mother India was so adorable and charming that her mother reportedly decided then and there: if she ever had a daughter, she would name her Aishwarya.
“Fourteen years after that play, she gave birth to her daughter and named her Aishwarya. Fourteen years after that play, the girl who played Mother India went on to become Miss World—Aishwarya Rai,” Mohanraj revealed, leaving everyone stunned by the beautiful coincidence.
She ended with a laugh: “So I guess, I am named after her.”
Watch the video:
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The video quickly went viral, amassing over 3 lakh views, with users flooding the comments section in awe of the story.
Mentalist Suhani Shah wrote, “Woahhhh!! What storytelling.”
Another commented, “The plot twist was amazing!!”
A third added, “Turns out the two Aishwaryas we know are more connected than we thought. Beautiful story. Love your parents’ story. And by the way—sharp editing. The music was perfectly done.”
One more summed it up perfectly: “I’m fully convinced your life is a movie, and we’re all just side characters—including Aishwarya. She’s there for the plot, and the plot is great.”
