Back then, the scandalous affair between Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai dominated the gossip columns of all the major newspapers. Aishwarya and Salman called it quits on their romance when Salman was charged with assault. They worked together on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, one of the most iconic films in Bollywood history.
Reports state that Aishwarya and Salman began dating in 1997. Salman was a well-known Bollywood celebrity at the time and was already seeing Somy Ali.
After the movie’s popularity, whispers were going around that the lead actor and actress were dating. Aishwarya Rai, Salman’s girlfriend, gained popularity in the community. After becoming close to Aishwarya Rai, Somy Ali walked away from Salman Khan and settled in America.
Aishwarya and Salman grew closer, and it was believed that she was close to Salman’s sisters, Arpita Khan and Alvira Khan. While Aishwarya’s family opposed the relationship, the Khan family was mostly happy with it.
When Salman arrived at Aishwarya’s flat late one night in 2001, he began pounding on her door and pleading with her to let him in. Media outlets were informed by the neighbours who saw the incident that although Salman intended to ask Aish to marry him, she wasn’t ready.
Salman and Aishwarya went through everything from romance to drama while they were together. In a 2002 interview, Aishwarya Rai stated her awful split with Salman.
Aish said, “Salman and I broke up last March, but he isn’t able to come to terms with it. After we broke up, he would call me and talk rubbish. He also suspected me of having affairs with my co-stars. I was linked up with everyone, from Abhishek Bachchan to Shah Rukh Khan. There were times when Salman got physical with me, luckily without leaving any marks. And I would go to work as if nothing had happened.”
She also stated, “I stood by him, enduring his alcoholic misbehaviour in its worst phases, and in turn, I was at the receiving end of his abuse (verbal, physical, and emotional), infidelity and indignity. That is why like any other self-respecting woman I ended my relationship with him.”
In the past, Aishwarya has claimed that Salman had an affair while they were dating. A few months after Aishwarya’s interview, Salman Khan responded to these accusations in an interview with a major daily, saying, “No. I have never beaten her. Anyone can beat me up. Any fighter here on the sets can thrash me. That is why people are not scared of me. I do get emotional. Then I hurt myself. I have banged my head against the wall; I have hurt myself all over. I cannot hurt anyone else. I have only hit Subhash Ghai. Yet, I apologized to him the next day. There are times when you do get out of control. That person hit me with a spoon, almost broke a plate on my face, pissed on my shoes and grabbed me by the neck. I could not control myself. And see what happened. The next day, I had to go and apologize.”
For the sake of her well-being and self-respect, Aishwarya reportedly said in public that she will no longer collaborate with Salman in future. She went on to say that Salman Khan’s chapter was a nightmare for her and that she is happy it is now over.
