Producer Shailendra Singh, known for films like Firaaq, Phir Milenge, and Page 3, recently opened up about Bollywood stars Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, recalling their past relationship as a “violent love story.”
Singh described an event to Siddharth Kannan which involved Salman Khan allegedly going to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s home during the nighttime. “I know of things,” Singh said. “Aishwarya, at one point, was staying in the same building as Sachin Tendulkar. And Salman went there… you remember all of it?”
He added, “Aishwarya came to an award show wearing dark glasses. The play Romeo and Juliet describes their relationship as a violent love story. He shows intense feelings while she displays her strong sense of dignity and respect. She possesses exceptional intelligence.
Singh responded to the question about Aishwarya’s conversation regarding the incident by saying, “No we weren’t that close. She prefers to keep her life private so we should honor her request for privacy. She hasn’t had many relationships in the industry.”
Singh also touched on his friendship with Salman Khan, which ended after a professional disagreement. “Our friendship was strong. I approached him for a commercial project called Captain, but the meeting didn’t go as expected. Several people were called in, and that was my last meeting with him. I felt deeply insulted,” he said.
Reflecting on Aishwarya Rai’s early career, Singh shared, “I spotted Aishwarya when she was 18 or 19 at Marine Drive. She came with her parents to meet Kunal Kapoor and me at 8:30 PM. She did our first three advertisements for just Rs 5,000. She started as an extra in a Mukesh Mills commercial, then did a Ghrit Kumari Hair Oil ad and another commercial with Arjun Rampal.”
Singh praised Aishwarya’s grace and dignity: “She’s a lovely human being. Supremely dignified. People like her should be the voice of our industry. Who’s the brand ambassador of Bollywood? Who’s the custodian?”