Kamal Ghorui
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan isn’t just one of the best actresses Indian cinema ever saw, she’s also a global name who has always represented India several times internationally. From winning the Miss World crown in 1994 to becoming one of the most respected actors, her journey has been defined by range, resilience and grace. However, in a recent interview, producer Shailendra Singh has recalled the initial days of her career where she worked for paycheque of modest Rs 5000. Shailendra recalled first noticing Aishwarya when she was barely out of her teens. He said in an interview with Siddharth Kannan, “I spotted Aishwarya when she was 18 or 19 at Marine Drive, if I recall. She came to meet Kunal Kapoor and me at 8:30 in the night with her parents. She was just 18 or 19 and she did our first three advertisements for just Rs 5,000. She was first, I think, an extra, tied to a pole in Mukesh Mills for a commercial. Then she did a Ghrit Kumari Hair Oil ad with Malvika Tiwari, and then she did another commercial with Arjun Rampal. This is how she started.”Speaking warmly about her, praising her poise and grace. “She’s a lovely human being. I’ve known her all my life, supremely dignified. These are the kind of people who should be the voice of our industry. I ask this question very often: Who’s the brand ambassador of Bollywood? Who’s the custodian?”During the same interaction, the producer also addressed Aishwarya’s much-discussed and controversial relationship with Salman Khan, as he revealed that he had once shared close ties with both actors. Recalling the incident when Salman allegedly caused a scene outside Aishwarya’s residence late at night, Shailendra said, “I know of things. Aishwarya at one point was staying in the same building as Sachin Tendulkar, if you remember? And Salman went there and all that, you remember all of it? Aishwarya came to an award show wearing dark glasses and stuff like that. As they say in Romeo and Juliet, it’s a violent love story. He’s a passionate guy, and she’s a very dignified, very respectful person, all of that I know of her. She’s brilliant.”When asked whether Aishwarya ever personally confided in him about the fallout or the circumstances surrounding her appearance in dark glasses at the awards ceremony, Shailendra was quick to clarify the limits of their bond. “No, no. We weren’t that close. I knew her from the days of Rajeev Mulchandani (supermodel)? I think that was her first relationship, and she hasn’t had many relationships in the industry. She is a very private person. I think we should respect that.”Shailendra also spoke about the incident that ultimately ended his friendship with Salman Khan. Recalling an attempt to collaborate on a film titled Captain, he said the relationship soured after a meeting that left him hurt. “Our friendship was very strong, so I went to him and said I want to make this film with you, a full commercial project,” he said. However, the meeting did not go as planned. “When I went to meet him, he had called several people into the meeting. That was my last meeting with Salman. I felt deeply insulted,” Shailendra added.
