Here's how Aishwarya Rai landed the lead role in Salman Khan's Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam; Bhansali's version

After meeting Aishwarya Rai for the first time, Sanjay Leela Bhansali decided that she will play the role of Nandini in his film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam

<p>Superhit film from of the 90s, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam director Sanjay Leela Bhansali once told what he felt about Aishwarya Rai after meeting her for the first meeting.</p>

Superhit film from of the 90s, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam director Sanjay Leela Bhansali once told what he felt about Aishwarya Rai after meeting her for the first meeting.

<p>Aishwarya Rai got her first hit film from Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Later, she did two more films with him Guzaarish and Devdas. Devdas was a blockbuster, and she got the Filmfare Best Actress award that year.</p>

Aishwarya Rai got her first hit film from Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Later, she did two more films with him Guzaarish and Devdas. Devdas was a blockbuster, and she got the Filmfare Best Actress award that year.

<p>But did you know how Aishwarya Rai got Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam? In an interview, Sanjay recalled meet the actress for the first time and said that he felt a fire in Aishwarya's eyes.</p>

But did you know how Aishwarya Rai got Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam? In an interview, Sanjay recalled meet the actress for the first time and said that he felt a fire in Aishwarya's eyes.

<p>Sanjay recalled, ''Our hands met, our eyes met. I saw a fire in her eyes. Those days I was looking for a girl to play Nandini. I said to myself, ‘Yehi to hai meri Nandini (she is my Nandini)'. Whether she would deliver because she had a Miss World image and a Western face, people had doubts. But I thought why not tie her hair in a plait and give her a traditional look?''</p>

Sanjay recalled, ''Our hands met, our eyes met. I saw a fire in her eyes. Those days I was looking for a girl to play Nandini. I said to myself, ‘Yehi to hai meri Nandini (she is my Nandini)'. Whether she would deliver because she had a Miss World image and a Western face, people had doubts. But I thought why not tie her hair in a plait and give her a traditional look?''

<p>He added people called Aishwarya cold and manipulative, to which he said, ''People call her cold, distant and manipulative. Yes, she thinks before she acts. She has a mind of her own. But she has a heart that feels more. In every hour of crisis I've gone through, Aishwarya Rai has called, called again and again.''</p>

He added people called Aishwarya cold and manipulative, to which he said, ''People call her cold, distant and manipulative. Yes, she thinks before she acts. She has a mind of her own. But she has a heart that feels more. In every hour of crisis I've gone through, Aishwarya Rai has called, called again and again.''

<p>Sanjay added, ''Be it Saawariya not doing well or when we had a difference of opinion about Bajirao Mastani being shelved for various reasons. I thought she'd gone to press saying she wouldn't do it instead of telling me. But she came on the sets of Black and cleared it all saying, 'I don't have anything in my heart. I have personally come to tell you this. I want to connect with a friend.' There's nothing cold about her.''</p>

Sanjay added, ''Be it Saawariya not doing well or when we had a difference of opinion about Bajirao Mastani being shelved for various reasons. I thought she'd gone to press saying she wouldn't do it instead of telling me. But she came on the sets of Black and cleared it all saying, 'I don't have anything in my heart. I have personally come to tell you this. I want to connect with a friend.' There's nothing cold about her.''