Veteran actress Smita Jaykar , who memorably played Aishwarya Rai 's mother in Sanjay Leela Bhansali ’s iconic film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam , has opened up about the early days of Salman Khan and Aishwarya ’s relationship, confirming that their real-life romance began on the sets and contributed immensely to the film’s emotional depth.
In a recent interview with Filmymantra, Jaykar candidly recalled the shoot, describing the atmosphere as festive and filled with camaraderie. “We used to sit and play Antakshari. It was like a big family,” she said, fondly remembering the Delhi schedule. But what stood out most was the budding chemistry between the leads.

‘The affair flourished there... it helped the film a lot’
“Yes, they fell in love there. The affair flourished there. And it helped the film a lot,” Jaykar admitted. “Both of them had those moony-moony eyes, and it was showing on their faces. That worked very well for the film.”
She refrained from commenting on any personal conversations with Salman about Aishwarya, but she called him a “brat” in an affectionate tone and emphasized his “large-hearted” and “good-natured” personality. She also praised Aishwarya, saying, “Without makeup, too, she looked so pretty. Very humble, very grounded—at least at that time when I knew her.”
Bhansali’s perfectionism and fairness impressed the cast
Jaykar also offered rare insight into director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s working style, describing him as an ultra-perfectionist who never compromised on craft. “Every frame was like poetry,” she said, pointing out that Bhansali gave equal importance to every character, not just the leads.

She shared a moment where Bhansali allowed her to choose her sarees and jewelry for important scenes, based on her character’s emotional state. “He told me, ‘Choose the colours you want, because it matters what you’re feeling in the scene.’ That made me want to give my best.”
In recounting a humorous moment with Salman Khan, Jaykar revealed how the actor’s soft dialogue delivery once caused her to miss her cue. “I couldn’t hear his lines—his lips weren’t even moving. I didn’t know when his line ended, so I couldn’t start mine!” she laughed. “Sanjay sir had to ask him to speak louder.”