The infamous Salman Khan-Aishwarya Rai Bachchan affair used to dominate all gossip columns in the late 1990's and early 2000's. The former couple's affair started during their film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) and ended with a bang in 2002. The two, who were once so madly in love, don't even acknowledge each other today.
Things turned sour by 2001. In November 2001, eyewitnesses say that Salman reached Aishwarya's apartment and kept banging on the door, asking to be let in. Some say that he even threatened to commit suicide if she didn't let him in.
The drama continued till 3am in the morning, and finally she let him in. Apparently, his hands were bleeding. According to sources, the reason behind the spectacle was that he wanted a promise of marriage from Ash. However, she was in no hurry to get married, back then.
Salman later said in an interview that she wasn't returning his love, and that he was forced to turn violent.
"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," he maintained stoically. Ash, clearly didn't think so.
The turning point that marked the end of the relationship was when Salman went to USA to help his ex-girlfriend, Somy Ali, without informing Ash, who was obviously furious about it. It was only downhill after this.
In 2002, Aishwarya confirmed her breakup with Salman. She said that he wasn't able to come to terms with it. "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 had said in an interview.She said that despite all the abuse Salman put her through, she had stood by him during his worst phases and endured his alcoholic mishaps.
Months after Aishwarya's interview, Salman responded to her allegations. He said, "I have never beaten her. I get emotional and hurt myself. I have banged my head against the wall but I cannot hurt anyone else."