When Aishwarya Rai Spoke About 'Secret Nikah' Rumours With Salman Khan: 'I'm Not The Sort Of Person To...'

Aishwarya Rai and Salman Khan are among Bollywood’s most talked about former couples. They reportedly started dating soon after they worked together in the 1999 film, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. As their love grew intense, rumours were rife that Aishwarya and Salman had tied the knot in a ‘secret nikah’ ceremony and that the actress had converted to Islam.

While there was never any confirmation about the same, rumours mills claimed that the wedding took place in a bungalow in Lonavala and was attended by close friends and family. It was also said that Salman and Aishwarya’s parents did not attend the wedding. Reports also mentioned a honeymoon in New York. However, these claims were not proven.

During a media interaction back then, Aishwarya dismissed these rumours. The actress said that if she got married, the entire industry would know about it. “Wouldn’t the entire industry be aware of it if it had happened? The industry is such a small place, besides I’ve not even had the time to spend with my family after my mom’s accident. I’m not the sort of person to deny something as major as marriage. I’d proudly announce my marriage to the world if it had happened. Also, where is the time to marry? All this is simply ridiculous,” Aishwarya had said.

Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai reportedly broke up in 2002 and did not work together again after that. In a 2012 interview with Simi Garewal, Aishwarya addressed her tumultuous break-up with Salman and said, “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.”

When asked if she felt negatively about the past, the actress said, “I’ve exorcised my demons; it’s a thing of the past; it needs to be left right there.” “I am not a soloist… 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,” she had said.

Aishwarya Rai found love again with Abhishek Bachchan and they tied the knot in April 2007. They welcomed their daughter, Aaradhya Bachchan, in 2011.