**Aishwarya Rai Turns 52 Today**
Aishwarya Rai, one of the biggest names in the Bollywood industry, is turning 52 today, on October 1, 2025. Crowned Miss World in 1994, Aishwarya has enjoyed a Bollywood career spanning over decades and is celebrated by both fans and critics alike. Throughout this time, she has not only commanded the box office but also captured the hearts of audiences worldwide.
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### Aishwarya Rai’s Professional Setbacks
Despite her immense success, it is well-known that Aishwarya Rai faced several professional setbacks during her career. Notably, she was asked to withdraw from five different films opposite Shah Rukh Khan — films that ultimately went on to achieve massive box office success. Remarkably, Aishwarya was never given an explanation for these decisions.
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### Aishwarya Rai and Shah Rukh Khan’s On-Screen Chemistry
Aishwarya Rai and Shah Rukh Khan shared the screen in three major hits: *Mohabbatein*, *Devdas*, and *Josh*. Their chemistry and performances were widely appreciated by audiences and critics alike. However, behind the scenes, professional disagreements reportedly led Shah Rukh Khan to exclude Aishwarya from several of his projects.
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### When Aishwarya Rai Broke Her Silence
In an interview with Simi Garewal on her show *Rendezvous*, Aishwarya opened up about being asked to step away from at least five different Shah Rukh Khan hits. The list included blockbusters like *Veer-Zaara*, *Kal Ho Naa Ho*, and *Chalte Chalte* — films that were reportedly written with her in mind.
Aishwarya expressed how hurt and confused she felt at the time but revealed that she never received a clear explanation. She said,
*”There were a couple of films that were supposed to happen with me. But suddenly they weren’t happening, without any reason whatsoever.”*
When asked if she had chosen to step back, she strongly denied it:
*”No, it wasn’t my decision. You obviously are taken aback, confused, and, of course, hurt. You wonder about it.”*
She also added,
*”It’s not in my nature to get into questioning what and why.”*
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### Shah Rukh Khan’s Explanation
In a 2003 interview with India Today, Shah Rukh Khan addressed the issue and expressed regret over how things unfolded. He acknowledged that Aishwarya is a good friend and admitted it was a mistake to replace her in those projects.
He said,
*”To start a project with someone and then change her for no fault of hers is very difficult. It is very sad, as Ash is a good friend. Personally, I think I did wrong. But as a producer, it made sense. I apologized to Ash.”*
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### The Possible Reasons Behind Shah Rukh Khan’s Decision
Though no official reason was ever confirmed, industry rumors suggested that Shah Rukh Khan’s decision was influenced by Aishwarya Rai’s rocky relationship with Salman Khan at the time. Reports claimed that Aishwarya had already signed on for *Chalte Chalte* but dropped out after Salman Khan created trouble on set.
It was also rumored that Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan had a conflict related to this situation, which might have contributed to Shah Rukh’s choice to drop Aishwarya from these projects.
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### Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Aishwarya Rai
The dynamic between the two Khans and Aishwarya Rai has often been a subject of media attention. One of the most talked-about incidents was the reported physical fight between Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan at Katrina Kaif’s birthday party in 2008, which was rumored to be over Aishwarya Rai.
Thankfully, the actors reconciled later on, notably at Baba Siddiqui’s party in 2013.
The last time Aishwarya Rai and Shah Rukh Khan appeared opposite each other on screen was in the film *Ae Dil Hai Mushkil* (2016).
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As Aishwarya Rai celebrates her 52nd birthday today, fans continue to cherish her remarkable journey in Bollywood and hope to see more collaborations between these iconic stars in the future.
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