Veteran actress Himani Shivpuri recently took a trip down memory lane, reflecting on the time she spent with two of her co-stars: Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. In an interview with Red FM Podcasts, she opened up about the days when the two stars were dating and shared a surprising anecdote involving a heated moment on set. Himani Shivpuri, who has shared screen space with Aishwarya in several films including Aa Ab Laut Chalein, Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai, and Umrao Jaan, spoke highly of her personality. Recalling their early days, Himani mentioned that Aishwarya was not very established back then. She mentioned how they became close while working together in Hyderabad for Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai. “We were very close then, used to roam in vans,” the actress recalled, adding that they spent a lot of time talking because Aishwarya was very nice and very well read.
It was during this period that Salman and Aishwarya’s relationship was reportedly at its peak. Himani shared that Salman would visit the sets every night and leave in the morning. However, she also remembered a specific instance when things weren’t as smooth.
Recalling a day at Film City when Aishwarya was shooting with Abhishek Bachchan for a Rohan Sippy film, Himani described a pissed Salman venting his frustrations to her. According to her, Salman was visibly upset and said to her, “Kya hai? Isko samjhao. Waheeda Rehman ko dekhe. Apne aap ko bohot khubsurat samajhti hai” (You make her understand. She thinks she is pretty. Ask her to look at Waheeda Rehman).
Himani revealed that she played the role of a peacemaker in that moment, telling Salman to calm down and stay quiet. Despite the occasional friction, Himani said that Aishwarya remained a grounded person throughout their interactions. She shared, “More than a beauty, I think she is a very nice person.”
Salman and Aishwarya reportedly began dating in 1999 after meeting on the sets of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, eventually parting ways in 2002. While their professional and personal paths have remained separate for years, these behind-the-scenes memories from co-stars like Himani Shivpuri continue to offer a glimpse into that era of Bollywood.
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