Somy Ali, Salman Khan’s ex-girlfriend, recently opened up about the timeline during which Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai fell in love. This was around the time they were working together on the film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in 1999. According to Somy Ali, while Salman was still in a relationship with her, Aishwarya would come to visit him at his gym located at Galaxy Apartments, where Salman Khan lived.
Somy Ali shared while talking to Times Now, “Later, Aish started coming to Salman’s gym where we were living. Salman and I used to live on the ground floor of Galaxy where we had a gym also.” She revealed that her suspicions about Salman and Aishwarya's growing closeness were confirmed when the household staff, who seemed to favour her, passed along information to her. She elaborated, “I was getting information from the servants inside who favoured me. I knew in my heart that their relationship was something that’s gonna blossom. I knew it’s time for me to leave.”
The Beginning of Salman and Aishwarya's Relationship
Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai’s relationship reportedly blossomed on the sets of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam where they were cast as the lead couple. Somy recalled an incident during the filming of the movie. She had tried to contact Salman, but he wasn’t answering his phone. In frustration, she reached out to the film’s director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali. According to her, Bhansali deflected her concerns by stating, “He can’t speak to you right now because he’s in a shot.” Somy retorted, “If he’s in a shot, why aren’t you directing it? Why are you picking up my phone call?” This incident made her realize that something was amiss, and Salman was drifting away from her emotionally.
Speaking further about this period, Somy explained that Salman and Aishwarya’s chemistry on set quickly transitioned into a real-life romance. She noted, “Aishwarya and Salman fell in love during the shooting of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. I knew in my heart that their relationship was something that was going to grow, and I realized it was time for me to step back.”
The End of a Tumultuous Romance
Aishwarya Rai and Salman Khan’s relationship was the subject of much speculation during their time together. The couple was considered one of the most iconic pairs in Bollywood. However, their love story did not have a fairy tale ending. In 2002, after a few years of being together, the couple called it quits. Their break-up was public and surrounded by rumors, some of which painted a picture of a rocky relationship.
In a 2012 interview with Simi Garewal, Aishwarya briefly addressed her tumultuous break-up with Salman, stating, “I think I have quite shut it out. I think I wouldn’t want to get into looking at it any which way and especially on a public platform. I really wouldn’t want to.”
Moving on From the Past
Despite the high-profile nature of their relationship and subsequent break-up, Aishwarya had chosen to move on and focus on her life away from the controversies. In the same interview with Simi Garewal, when asked whether she had any lingering negativity about the past, Aishwarya responded, “I’ve exorcised my demons; it’s a thing of the past; it needs to be left right there.”
She had then expressed that she had come to peace with what had happened and had no desire to revisit that chapter of her life publicly. "With me comes my family, my loved ones, people I love and care about very dearly. So, there is an obvious wall. Yes, there is, and there is no denial of it."
Aishwarya’s New Chapter
Aishwarya Rai found love again, this time with actor Abhishek Bachchan. The couple tied the knot in April 2007, marking a new chapter in her life. They have since welcomed their daughter, Aaradhya Bachchan, in 2011. Aishwarya and Abhishek’s marriage remains one of the most celebrated unions in Bollywood, with both continuing to work in the industry while balancing family life.
Reflections From Somy Ali
Somy Ali’s reflections on her time with Salman Khan and her insights into his relationship with Aishwarya Rai provide a rare glimpse into a personal chapter in their lives that has largely remained behind closed doors. Somy acknowledged that it was difficult for her when she realized Salman was falling for Aishwarya, but she knew it was time for her to exit. She now looks back at that period with clarity, recognizing the inevitability of Salman and Aishwarya's romance during the filming of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.
For both Aishwarya and Salman, that time in their lives has passed. They have since moved on to pursue different paths, with Aishwarya building a life with Abhishek and Salman continuing his journey in Bollywood. However, their relationship remains a fascinating subject for Bollywood fans, and with Somy Ali’s recent revelations, it seems that even after all these years, people are still intrigued by the past.
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