When Aishwarya Rai called Salman Khan ‘The most gorgeous and se*iest man’ during an interview, watch here

Before her marriage to Abhishek Bachchan, and long before the current buzz of divorce rumours began circulating, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s personal life was often the subject of public fascination. One of the most talked-about chapters in her life was her relationship with Salman Khan, which began during the making of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 1999 romantic drama Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Their chemistry lit up the screen, and behind the scenes, their romance grew serious.

However, the relationship, which lasted until 2002, ended on a bitter note. In later interviews, Aishwarya alleged that she had faced verbal, physical, and emotional abuse, along with infidelity and indignity during her time with Salman. Despite this tumultuous end, there was a time when she spoke fondly of him in public.

One such moment came on the popular celebrity talk show Rendezvous with Simi Garewal. The elegant and soft-spoken Simi, known for her candid yet respectful interviews, asked Aishwarya to name the Bollywood actor she considered “the sexiest and most gorgeous man.” Aishwarya paused, smiled, and after a brief moment of thought, replied, “Someone who is obviously selected in the list of Indian men internationally, recently… Salman.”

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This episode was filmed shortly after Salman Khan had made global headlines by being voted the seventh best-looking man in the world by People magazine, an American weekly publication. At the time, their relationship was still in the public eye, and her answer was seen as a sweet acknowledgment of his charm and charisma.