Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai, who last shared the screen in the 1999 romantic musical ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam,’ were once a couple before their relationship ended in 2002. Following their breakup, Aishwarya was rumored to be dating Vivek Oberoi, which led to a highly publicized conflict between Salman and Vivek. In a 2003 press conference, Vivek accused Salman of threatening him due to his relationship with Aishwarya.
Aishwarya later married Abhishek Bachchan in 2007, and the couple welcomed their daughter, Aaradhya, in 2011. Salman’s father, veteran screenwriter Salim Khan, once commented on the feud between Salman and Vivek. He mentioned that emotional problems often lack logical solutions and that both Salman and Vivek were emotional at the time. Salim Khan predicted that they would eventually realize their fight was over something trivial.
Salim Khan also foresaw a positive change in Salman’s life after 2009. He expressed hope that Salman would find peace and possibly marry within a year or two, although he acknowledged that the chances were slim if it didn’t happen soon. Salim Khan’s predictions about Salman’s future suggested that his life would improve after 2009.
Years later, Vivek Oberoi reflected on the impact of his feud with Salman. He revealed that the controversy led to unnecessary hardship and affected his career. Vivek highlighted the negative aspects of Bollywood, including lobbying and damaging stories, which he faced during this period. Despite the passage of time, Salman and Vivek have not reconciled.
In a throwback interview with The Times of India, Aishwarya Rai shared details about her breakup with Salman Khan. She mentioned that Salman continued to call and harass her after their breakup, often accusing her of having affairs with her co-stars. Aishwarya also revealed that Salman allegedly physically assaulted her, though he never left any marks.
Salman and Aishwarya recently made headlines again when they both attended the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) fashion gala in Mumbai last year, sparking excitement among fans who noted they were under the same roof.
Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai’s tumultuous relationship remains a topic of interest among Bollywood fans, even though the two parted ways on a sour note. The actors began dating in the late 1990s but their relationship ended in the early 2000s after Aishwarya accused Salman of physical abuse. Over the years, both Salman and Aishwarya have been asked about the breakup, and recently, an old video resurfaced where Salman can be seen reacting to Aishwarya’s allegations.
In the video, the interviewer asked Salman Khan whether he had hit Aishwarya physically or not. Salman replied that Aishwarya’s ‘abuse claims’ are false. He is seen saying in the video, “If I hit her, she wouldn’t survive.” He added, “Now, the woman has said that I have, what to say.” When the reporter asked Salman if he did not want to get into that, the actor responded, “A journalist, who asked me this a long time ago and I just banged the table and he got startled if the table really broke.”
Salman continued, “I said, ‘Now if I hit somebody, it’s obviously going to be a fight. I’m going to be angry. Forget whack, I’m going to give her my best shot. I don’t think she’ll survive it. So no, it’s not true and I don’t know for what reason that was said.”
The duo started dating each other during their 1998 film ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.’ The relationship between the two ended in 2002. After the breakup, Aishwarya poured her heart out. She told the Bombay Times at that time, “I stood by him enduring his alcoholic misbehavior 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.”
