The day Salman Khan demonstrated a scene to Shah Rukh Khan for Devdas

When Salman Khan Showed Shah Rukh Khan How to Enact a Scene in 'Devdas'

Salman Khan demonstrates a scene to Shah Rukh Khan for Devdas

For more than three decades, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan have been two of Bollywood's biggest stars. They have both delivered some of Indian cinema's most iconic blockbusters. They were recently seen together at the premiere of Aamir Khan's new movie, Sitaare Zameen Par. While fans have celebrated their friendship and occasional disagreements over the years, there's a little-known story from the early 2000s that reveals a special moment they shared on the set of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's epic film, Devdas.

At the time, Devdas was one of Bollywood's most ambitious projects, featuring a dream cast of Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, and Madhuri Dixit. However, behind the scenes, the personal relationships were as intense as the film's dramatic plot. It is well known that Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai were in a relationship after starring in Bhansali's Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. By the time Devdas began production, their relationship was strained and reportedly coming to an end. Despite the tension, Salman often visited the Devdas set.

In her book about Shah Rukh Khan, film critic and journalist Anupama Chopra shared a fascinating story from those days. The scene being filmed involved Shah Rukh Khan's character, Devdas, removing a thorn from Paro's (Aishwarya Rai) foot – a tender, romantic moment between the two main characters. While Shah Rukh, Bhansali, and Aishwarya were working on the scene, Salman, who was on set, offered to show how the scene should be done.

As the camera rolled, Salman acted out the moment with Aishwarya, capturing the tenderness and emotion that Bhansali wanted. It was a short but meaningful moment where one superstar subtly directed another in front of the camera.

Interestingly, this unplanned scene demonstration was also the last time Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai were together in a film setting. Their personal relationship worsened soon after, and they never worked together on screen again.