Today, June 18, 2025, marks 26 glorious years of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s iconic film, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. The film originally premiered in 1999 on this very day, and has since remained one of the cult favourites among Bollywood buffs. This was also the time that rumours about Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai’s relationship started, eventually becoming a much-discussed topic in the industry. In its 26th year of premiere, Sanjay Leela Bhansali opened up about the real-life romance that blossomed on the film’s sets.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali remembers the love on the set of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
During a conversation with ETimes, Bhansali shared some behind-the-scenes anecdotes about his iconic film, Hum Dil Chuke Sanam, starring Aishwarya Rai, Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn in lead roles. When asked about the brewing love between Aishwarya and Salman, the filmmaker confirmed that the sizzling chemistry audiences witnessed on screen was very much a reflection of real life. Subtly acknowledging the relationship that had long been the subject of Bollywood gossip columns, Bhansali remarked:
“Yes, there was love in the air. But not just between them; there was a lot of affection among all of us. Zohra Sehgalji, Helen Aunty, Salman, Aishwarya, Smita Jayekar — we were like one big family. I don’t think I’ve had such a fulfilling experience shooting any other film.”