It was one birthday that Aishwarya Rai [Images] Bachchan would not have liked to miss.  

The actress, with hubby Abhishek Bachchan [Images] in tow, landed at the Bajpe Airport, Mangalore, on November 20 to attend her father, Krishna Rai's birthday.  

Though Aishwarya's visit was kept a secret, quite a few fans waited at the airport for the couple. 

Abhishek was dressed in blue jeans and a white shirt while his wife was clad in a light saffron coloured sleeveless churidar. The couple was accompanied by Aishwarya's mother Vrinda Rai, brother Aditya and his wife Shrima.

The birthday celebrations were held at a five star hotel, the Taj Manjarun. About a hundred guests were invited. After the function, the couple took the next flight to Mumbai.

Krishna Rai, now an influential businessman in Dakshina Kannada district, belongs to the influential Bunt community. He had migrated to Mumbai years ago.

Text: R G Vijayasarathy