Salman Khan’s heartbreak over Aishwarya Rai added raw authenticity to Tere Naam song, reveals lyricist

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s split with Aishwarya Rai in 2002 remains one of the most talked-about chapters in the industry. In 2003, he played a heartbroken and obsessive lover in Satish Kaushik’s Tere Naam. Recently, lyricist Sameer Anjaan opened up about how Salman’s personal pain influenced his performance on the film’s title track.

Sameer Anjaan recalls Salman Khan’s emotional state on set

Speaking on a podcast with Shubhankar Mishra, Sameer said, “Title track unko dhayan main rakhke nahi likhwaya gaya tha. Voh jo likhwaya gaya tha, voh asli jo unki kahani tuti thi Aishwarya Rai se. Voh gaana Himmesh Reshammiya ko bulake, Salman shot dene se pehle gwaate the aur rote the.” In English, he explained that the song wasn’t initially written for Salman, but it reflected his real heartbreak. Before giving a shot, Salman would ask Himesh Reshammiya to sing the song, and he would cry listening to it.

Sameer added, “Voh kehte tu aa aur yeh gaana mujhe suna. Specially Kyun Kisi Ko Vafa ke badle vafa nahi milti, unko laga ki yeh gaana vahan tak pahunchna chahiye, yeh mera dard hai. Set pe, Salman rote the yeh gaana sunke uske baad shot dene jaate the. Ki yaar yeh hai, ekdum zakham taza tha unka uss time.” In other words, Salman wanted the song’s message to reach Aishwarya, and his wounds were still fresh, making the performance deeply emotional.

Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai’s relationship

The two met on the sets of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in 1999. Their on-screen chemistry soon translated into a real-life romance, capturing the public’s imagination. However, by 2002, the couple parted ways. While Salman remains unmarried, Aishwarya married actor Abhishek Bachchan in 2007, and they have a daughter, Aaradhya Bachchan.

Sameer Anjaan is one of Bollywood’s most prolific lyricists, with a career spanning over three decades. He has written more than 4,000 songs across 500 films, covering soulful romantic tracks as well as energetic chartbusters. His contributions to Hindi cinema continue to be celebrated widely.