**Bhansali ‘Upset’ Salman by Casting SRK for ‘Devdas’?**
*By Apoorva Rastogi | Oct 08, 2025, 05:19 PM*
In a recent interview, composer Ismail Darbar shed light on why he believes director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s relationship with Salman Khan deteriorated. Darbar suggested that the rift might have stemmed from Bhansali casting Shah Rukh Khan in the film *Devdas* instead of Salman, despite the close rapport between Bhansali and Salman at the time.
*Devdas* went on to become a landmark movie in Shah Rukh Khan’s career, further fueling speculation about the fallout.
**Allegations Behind the Rift**
Darbar expressed his thoughts candidly, saying, “My heart tells me that his equation with Salman soured because he hired Shah Rukh for *Devdas*. Isn’t it obvious? If I help you out twice, and the third time, you go and hire my competitor, I would be upset.”
He added that Salman had worked with Bhansali on *Khamoshi*, and even though the film did not perform well, Salman gave Bhansali another chance, which made Bhansali’s decision to cast Shah Rukh instead feel more disappointing.
**Was Aishwarya Rai Bachchan a Factor?**
When asked if Bhansali’s choice to cast Shah Rukh instead of Salman was influenced by the rumored tensions involving Salman’s ex, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Darbar commented, “The news of their fights were all over the media. We used to feel bad; they were so close, they shouldn’t have been fighting.”
He added, “But these are all things of the past; even Salman is smart enough to never speak about it.”
**Insights on Darbar’s Own Feud with Bhansali**
During the conversation, Darbar also opened up about his own fallout with Bhansali, describing the director as “egoistic.” The composer’s revelations provide a rare glimpse into the complex dynamics behind some of Bollywood’s most talked-about collaborations and conflicts.
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