By Monisha G Kumar Last Updated:
Aishwarya Rai is the pride of every Indian. Her beauty and charm are unparalleled, and every glimpse of the diva makes everyone gasp for breath. Such is her aura that there are tulips named after her at the Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands. Aishwarya has many firsts to her name as she was the first Indian to be invited to Oprah Winfrey's show and the first female to have Madam Tussaud’s statue.
In her two-decade-long career, Aishwarya’s name has been linked to many Bollywood actors. But her affair and ugly breakup with actor, Salman Khan is still a widely discussed topic. The ‘IT’ couple of the 90s, Aishwarya Rai and Salman Khan’s affair began during the shooting of their film, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Salman was hopelessly in love with Aishwarya and wanted to marry her.
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In 1999, Aishwarya Rai appeared on Simi Garewal’s talk show, Rendezvous with Simi Garewal. When the host of the show asked Aishwarya, who is the sexiest and most gorgeous man in Bollywood?’, the former beauty queen was surprised by the question. After thinking for some time, Aishwarya asked, “Could we substitute that with charming?” Simi told Aishwarya to stick to sexy and gorgeous. After thinking for some more time, Aishwarya blushingly told the host:
“Alright, let’s take someone who is obviously selected amongst the list of Indian men internationally-Salman Khan.”
To watch the video, click here.
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Recently the throwback video got viral again on the Reddit thread, and people started commenting on the old video. Some users asked whether the episode happened during her relationship with Salman or after that. Another user commented that if Salman and Aishwarya married each other, their children would have been one of the best-looking people.
In 2002, Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai parted ways on an ugly note. Aishwarya had ended her relationship with Salman after enduring his alcoholism and abuses. In a throwback interview with The Times of India, Aishwarya bared her heart out about her abusive relationship with Salman. Revealing how Salman couldn’t come to terms with their breakup, Aishwarya stated:
“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.”
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She also vowed never to work with Salman Khan in any film and not to have any association with him. In an excerpt from her heart-wrenching note, Aishwarya's statement could be read as:
“For the sake of my well-being, my sanity, my dignity and the dignity and self-respect of my family — ENOUGH! I will not work with Mr Salman Khan. The Salman chapter was a nightmare in my life and I am thankful to God that it is over!”
After Aishwarya and Salman’s ugly breakup, the two are rarely seen standing under the same roof.
Also Read: When Aishwarya Rai Took A Dig At Alia Bhatt For The Kind Of Support Karan Johar Has Given To Her