Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai's relationship was the most talked, controversial affair in the film industry. Even before the #MeToo movement wave hit the film Industry, Aishwarya Rai openly spoke about being in an abusive relationship with Salman Khan.
undefined
Salman and Aishwarya's love story reportedly began in 1997. In 1999 during the shoot of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, their love bloomed. Since then their dating rumors were making rounds everywhere. It is said, it was Salman who recommended Aishwarya's name to Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
undefined
According to the 2004 book 'Hall of Fame, Aishwarya Rai', author Biswadeep Ghosh claimed that she rebelled against her parents for Salman Khan. She even moved out into a separate apartment in Lokhandwala's Gorakh Hill Tower.
undefined
Slowly their relationship hit a rough patch. The fizzled-out relationship started to make it's way to the newspaper and tabloids. According to the reports in 2001, Salman reached Aishwarya's apartment and banged the door of her 17th-floor apartment furiously and threatened to jump off the roof if she did not let him in.
undefined
No one from the neighborhood dared to call the cops fearing Salman's rage. The drama went on until 3 in the morning. Reportedly, Salman's hands were bleeding, Aishwarya opened the door and let him in. According to the sources he wanted a promise of marriage from her, but Aishwarya was not keen on settling down being at the peak of her career.
undefined
Another incident that caught attention was when Aishwarya appeared at an awards function with a fractured arm in 2002. Her presence during the Filmfare awards with a fractured arm and black glasses fanned the rumors that she has been physically assaulted by Salman Khan.
undefined
Salman had even damaged her car during the shooting of her movie 'Kuch Naa Kaho', reportedly. However, she clarified during an interview to Filmfare in May that year: "Why don't people believe that I fell down the stairs? The same media portrayed me as a strong woman.""Now it wants to paint me as a helpless one. I would never tolerate nonsense behavior. Nobody can act savagely with me. Even Arnold Schwarzenegger can get hurt in an accident. So, why can't I? I would have retaliated if I were physically attacked. This news is baseless. My silence has further fuelled the rumors. But I don't like to react to frivolous things."
undefined
Finally came the time after repeated abuses and assault Aishwarya decided to speak about it openly. During her interview with The Times of India in 2002, Aishwarya admitted for the first time being in an abusive relationship with Salman."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," she said."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. Salman hounded me and caused physical injuries to himself when I refused to take his calls," she said.
undefined
In another interview with The Indian Express, she said, "I stood by him enduring his alcoholic misbehavior in its worst phases and 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."A few months later, Salman reacted to her allegation during an interview with MiD-Day, he said, "Obviously, she will not recite poems if she is disturbed. Every person reacts in his own manner and I do not have an objection to thatSalman never admitted to physically attacking Aishwarya.
undefined
According to his interview with MiD-Day on September 18, 2002, he said, "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 apologised to him the next day."However, their relationship ended on a bitter note. Aishwarya decided not to work with Salman Khan ever again.
undefined
In one of the press releases Aiswarya said, "For my well-being and self-respect of my family, I will not work with Mr. Saman Khan. The chapter of Salman was a nightmare in my life. I am thankful that it is over now."
undefined