Blast From The Past: When Aishwarya Rai alleged that Salman Khan physically abused her

Affairs and relationships are as much a part of the tinsel town dwellers as are the movies and the showsha that comes along with it. While some love affairs translate into marriage, some end on a sour note and then there are others that remain on good terms despite going separate ways. Back in the late 1990's and early 2000's the link-up that made it to almost every magazine and gossip column was that of Aishwarya Rai and Salman Khan. The duo reportedly began dating while filming their hit film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and fell madly in love (1999). However, unfortunately, their relationship went kaput in the 2002 after Aishwarya said that Saman physically abused her. One the two had eyes only for each other, now don't even acknowledge each other when their paths happen to cross once in a rare while. 

As per reports, things between Aish and Salman began turning bitter by the year 2001. Eyewitnesses had earlier shared that In November 2001, Salman reached Aishwarya's apartment and kept banging the door, asking her to let him in. Others add that the actor even threatened to commit suicide if she didn't comply. The entire ruckus apparently went on till 3 am in the morning when Aish finally let Salman in. Some say that Salman's hands were apparently bleeding at the time. 

A report on IndiaToday suggested that sources shared that the reason behind the entire drama was that Salman wanted Aishwarya to commit marriage to him but Aish was in no rush to get married back then. 

Later, in an interview, Salman said that Aish wasn't returning his love and that forced him to turn violent. He was quoted as saying, "If you won't fight, that means there is no love between you, I will not fight with an outsider; when we fight, it is all because of our love."

So what was the nail in the coffin? It was apparently when Salman went to the US to help his ex-girlfriend Somy Aly, without informing Aish. This made Aishwarya furious and their relationship finally came to an end. Aish confirmed her break-up with Salman in the year 2002. 

Aishwaraya said in an interview, "He would call me and talk rubbish. He also suspected that I was having affairs with my co-stars. There were times when Salman got physical with me, luckily without leaving any marks and I would go to work as if nothing happened." She added that despite the abuse that she went through, she stood by Salman in his worst times and endured the outcomes of his alcoholic nature. 

A few months after Aishwarya's interview, Salman had responded by saying that he has never beaten her. "I get emotional and hurt myself. I have banged my head against the wall but I cannot hurt anyone else," he stated. 

Although Salman has never spoken about the episode till date, the two have avoided each other ever since. They have not even worked together in any film ever again.