Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai’s individual lives remain a consistent source of public attention. Though they now live apart, their past relationship continues to be a subject of interest. Their pairing in ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ is famous, and it was the set where their romance began. The closeness between Aishwarya and Salman was evident to everyone present, but few know that a film offered Salman the chance to play Aishwarya’s brother.
Salman Khan is known to be protective of those he cares for, which was particularly true for Aishwarya. Despite the eventual negative end to their relationship, the two have remained estranged. A film proposal that would have cast Salman alongside Aishwarya was quickly dismissed by him.
The film was ‘Josh,’ where Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai eventually played siblings. Shah Rukh wasn’t the first choice for the role. The filmmakers initially approached Salman Khan and Aamir Khan, hoping to cast them alongside Aishwarya. This initial vision did not come to fruition.
Salman was offered the part of Aishwarya’s brother, and Aamir was considered for another role. Upon learning he was to play Aishwarya’s brother, Salman rejected the offer. Their on-screen chemistry in ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ had solidified their image as a romantic pair, and fans were not likely to accept them as siblings.
Salman’s hesitation stemmed from his own feelings and the public perception of their relationship. After Salman and Aamir declined, the film went ahead with Shah Rukh, Aishwarya, and Chandrachur. ‘Josh’ was a financial success, grossing over 35 crores against a budget of 16 crores.