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

When Salman Khan Showed Shah Rukh Khan How to Act in 'Devdas'

Behind-the-scenes moment during the filming of 'Devdas'

For over three decades, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan have stood as titans of Bollywood, each delivering some of Indian cinema's most memorable blockbusters. Recently, they were seen together at the premiere of Aamir Khan’s new film, Sitaare Zameen Par. Amidst the celebration of their friendship and occasional rivalry, a little-known story from the early 2000s reveals a unique moment shared on the set of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s epic film, Devdas.

During the production of Devdas, a project of immense scale featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, and Madhuri Dixit, the off-screen relationships were as intense as the film's dramatic narrative. It's widely known that Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai were romantically involved after their collaboration in Bhansali’s Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. However, by the time Devdas commenced filming, their relationship was under strain. Despite this tension, Salman frequently visited the Devdas set.

Film critic and journalist Anupama Chopra recounted an intriguing incident in her book about Shah Rukh Khan. The scene being filmed involved Shah Rukh Khan's character, Devdas, removing a thorn from Paro’s (Aishwarya Rai) foot – a tender, romantic exchange between the lead characters. As Shah Rukh, Bhansali, and Aishwarya worked on the scene, Salman, who was present, offered to demonstrate how the scene should be executed.

As the cameras rolled, Salman acted out the moment with Aishwarya, capturing the emotion that Bhansali sought. This brief instance saw one superstar directing another in front of the camera.

Notably, this spontaneous demonstration marked the final occasion Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai were together on a film set. Their personal relationship soon ended, and they never shared the screen again.