: In July 2005 , media outlets released transcripts and audio of alleged phone conversations between Aishwarya Rai and actor Salman Khan from 2001.
The footage was BTS (behind-the-scenes) material shot on a handicam. In the video, Rai is seen in a casual setting—swimming or relaxing in a resort, wearing a swimsuit (a rarity for her at the time), and engaging in playful banter with her then-boyfriend, actor Salman Khan. The audio contained intimate, flirtatious conversations. : In July 2005 , media outlets released
Before we discuss the tape, we must understand the star. Aishwarya Rai won the Miss World pageant in 1994. She was immediately heralded as the epitome of classical Indian beauty—chiseled features, green-blue eyes, and a poise that reminded the middle class of the goddess Lakshmi. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, she was not just an actress; she was a national asset. Her image was strictly controlled: no kissing on screen, no bold roles, and certainly no public display of a private life. The audio contained intimate, flirtatious conversations