Former advertising filmmaker Prahlad Kakkar, who worked with: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan during his modeling days, previously reflected on the actor’s separation from: Salman Khan:. In an interview in 2025, she admitted that while the breakup itself brought her relief, what hurt her the most was feeling abandoned by the film industry, which she believed rallied behind Salman.Kakkar remembers standing next to Aishwarya during that episode. According to him, he lost faith in the industry after the relationship ended.“I was just supporting him. I told him, ‘Don’t worry about it.’ She said, ‘But the industry …’ Her biggest pain was leaving the industry for Salman. He really felt that; he felt betrayed. The separation is, in fact, a great relief at the end of it,” he said in an interview with Vickey Lalwani. He further admitted that Aishwarya’s disappointment did not stem from the end of the relationship and more about how he believed the industry reacted to it.“He is not angry about the split. He is angry that everyone is on Salman’s side and not his. The truth is on his side. He no longer trusts the industry because it is unfair. I understand if he is wrong and the other party is right, or if both sides are treated equally. But no – it is completely one sided,” added Kakkar.Kakkar also made claims about Salman’s behavior during that time, saying the actor was “very physical and obsessive” and asked, “How do you deal with someone like that?”However, he clarified that Aishwarya never spoke to him directly. However, he said that his observation came from living in the same building as the former couple.“No, I know because I live in the same building. He often makes scenes in the foyer and leans his head against the wall. The relationship ended before it was officially over. It was a relief for everyone — his parents, him, the whole world,” he shared.Salman Khan and: Aishwarya Rai They reportedly ended their relationship in 2002 and never did a film together. Years later, in a 2012 interview with: Simi GarewalAishwarya briefly talked about the breakup but chose not to go public with it.“I think I’ve shut it down. I don’t think I want to look at it in any way and especially on a public platform. I really don’t want to.”