"As for Aishwarya Rai & Salman, there was love in the air": SLB recalls 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' filming days

It’s been 26 years since Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam first graced the silver screen, but time has done little to dull its impact. The film, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and starring Salman Khan, Aishwarya Rai, and Ajay Devgn, remains a beloved classic, a story of love, longing, and letting go that continues to resonate with audiences even today.

In an exclusive conversation with ETimes, Bhansali reflected on what made the film so special and why it still holds a sacred place in his heart. “It’s the gentlest film I’ve ever made,” he shared. “There was a pure kind of innocence in the storytelling. After Khamoshi didn’t do well, I wanted to make something completely on my terms, without bending for commercial reasons, and that’s what Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam was.”

The film’s casting has become the stuff of legend, especially Aishwarya Rai as Nandini. Bhansali confessed that she was his dream choice from the start. “She was my perfect Nandini. What I saw in my head, she brought to life effortlessly.” The director also acknowledged the undeniable chemistry between her and Salman Khan, which many believed spilled beyond the screen. “There was love in the air,” he admitted, “not just between them but across the entire set. We were like a family.”

Despite behind-the-scenes challenges, including pressure from distributors to alter the ending or to have Aishwarya’s character end up with Salman, Bhansali held firm to his original vision. “That kind of conviction is rare to hold onto in this industry,” he noted.

As for remakes? Bhansali is clear: Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam is one story he would never retell. “It was created in a particular time, with a particular energy. I don’t want to touch it again. Except maybe Khamoshi, where I had to compromise on the ending.”

In a cinematic era where formulas often overshadow feelings, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam remains a beautiful reminder of storytelling from the heart. And 26 years later, its soul still lingers, much like first love.