**Bhansali ‘Upset’ Salman by Casting SRK for ‘Devdas’?**
*By Apoorva Rastogi | Oct 08, 2025, 05:19 pm*
In a recent interview, composer Ismail Darbar revealed why he believes director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s relationship with Salman Khan deteriorated. Darbar suggested that the rift stemmed from Bhansali casting Shah Rukh Khan in the film *Devdas* instead of Salman, despite Bhansali and Salman sharing a close bond at the time.
*Devdas* went on to become a defining film in Shah Rukh Khan’s illustrious career, but according to Darbar, the decision to cast SRK created tension. He explained, “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.”
Darbar highlighted that Salman had worked with Bhansali on *Khamoshi* and continued to collaborate despite the film’s failure, making the casting choice all the more significant.
When asked if Bhansali’s decision was influenced by Salman’s rumored breakup with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan—who starred in *Devdas*—Darbar said, “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. But these are all things of the past; even Salman is smart enough to never speak about it.”
Additionally, Darbar did not hold back about his own fallout with Bhansali, describing the director as “egoistic” during the interview.
While the past conflicts remain in the spotlight, fans continue to admire the cinematic masterpiece that *Devdas* became, solidifying Shah Rukh Khan’s position in Bollywood history.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/bhansali-betrayed-salman-by-signing-srk-for-devdas/story
