Fans of the actor are asking for space for the couple to overcome the harsh period, while others are expressing hope that the split is temporary before they get back together.
The 38-year-old actor recently took to Twitter to share a statement, in which he wrote "18 years of togetherness as friends, couple, as parents and well wishers to each other. The journey has been of growth, understanding, adjusting and adapting... Today we stand at a place where our paths separate... Aishwaryaa and I have decided to part ways as a couple and take time to understand us as individuals for the better.
"Please do Respect our decision and give us the needed privacy to deal with this. Om Namashivaaya!
Spread love, D," he wrote.
????? pic.twitter.com/hAPu2aPp4n
— Dhanush (@dhanushkraja) January 17, 2022
Aishwarya later shared the statement on her Instagram, concluding it with : "Much love always to you all :) God speed. Aishwaryaa Rajinikanth." She captioned the post by writing "No caption needed…only your understanding n your love necessary!"
Over the almost two decades of marriage, Dhanush and Aishwarya have set couple goals, especially in the fast-paced Kollywood industry.
They got married on November 18, 2004, and have two sons named Yatra and Linga, aged 16 and 11, respectively.
Aishwarya had her directorial debut with '3' starring Dhanush and Shruti Haasan, and the song 'Kolaveri Di' from the movie became a hit worldwide.
Following the announcement, Aishwarya's younger sister Soundarya also took to social media to express her solidarity with the former.
She changed her Twitter display picture to a childhood picture of her and Aishwarya with their father, Superstar Rajinikanth, and captioned it #NewProfilePic.
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/0SnIQYvkkg
— soundarya rajnikanth (@soundaryaarajni) January 17, 2022
The reason for the couple's separation is not yet known, neither has Rajinikanth said anyting about it.
Photo source: Indiaglitz, Times of India