Aishwarya Rai Bachchan delivers a baby girl

The most awaited baby in Bollywood has arrived! Aishwarya Rai Bachchan today (November 16, 2011) delivered a baby girl at the Seven Hills Hospital in the Marol-Andheri area of Mumbai.

Aishwarya's hubby Abhishek confirmed the news on his Twitter page posting, "IT'S A GIRL!!!!!! :-)))))", around 10am (India time).

Abhishek added a few hours later, "Thank you all for your prayers and good wishes. Both Aishwarya and the baby are doing great and taking some much needed rest....And I'm trying my level best to get rid of this caffeine high and get some sleep too. Don't think it'll work. TOO EXCITED!!!!"

Ash's father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan added on his Twitter page, "I AM DADA to the cutest baby girl !"

He continued later, "A dada ji ... Ecstatic !!!!"

Big B had posted late last night (November 15), "And as i write, there is still no news from Aishwarya .. your wishes and prayers with us ... thank you ..

It was Amitabh Bachchan who had first announced the news of Aishwarya's pregnancy publicly, tweeting on June 21, 2011, ""NEWS NEWS NEWS !! I AM GOING TO BECOME A GRANDFATHER .. AISHWARYA EXPECTING .. SO HAPPY AND THRILLED !!!".

Hospital sources said Aishwarya's delivery was normal and came a few minutes before 10am. The Bachchan and Rai families were present for the birth.

Aishwarya, 38, developed labour pains around 4am and was taken to the labour room where the delivery took place after nearly six hours.

The actress is staying on the fifth floor of the luxury private hospital in Andheri east.

The hospital had booked three rooms on the floor -- one for Aishwarya, the other for the Bachchan family and the third for the Rai family. The entire floor was kept out of bounds for all except the two families.

The hospital has been under tight security for the past three days in expectation of the youngest member of the Bachchan family.

Aishwarya was admitted to the hospital late on Monday (November 14) and the Bachchans as well as her family - mum Vrinda and dad Krishnaraj have been with her at Seven Hills ever since. It is reportedly the same hospital where Aishwarya's sister-in-law, Shrima Rai, gave birth.

As the news of Aishwarya's delivery spread, Karan Johar was among the first to congratulate the Bachchans. He posted on his Twitter page, "Congratulations!! Baby B had a baby girl!! All the love and happiness...am sure she will be the prettiest girl ever!!!

KJO added, "Congratulations @SrBachchan!!!! Super exciting news....all the love and happiness amit uncle!!!!"

Aishwarya and Abhishek's daughter is Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan's third grandchild, after Agastya and Navya Naveli - children of his daughter Shweta and son-in-law Nikhil Nanda.

Aishwarya married Abhishek in April 2007 and rumours about her pregnancy had been doing the rounds ever since.

Our congratulations to the Bachchans and you can see pictures of Aishwarya's journey to motherhood, right here.