From Shah Rukh Khan to Priyanka Chopra: When Salman Khan forgave friends turned foes

Friend-turned-foe-turned-amigos! These are the words emanating from Madrid after Salman Khan reportedly bonded with Sanjay Dutt, thereby putting an end to all speculation of a rift between the two actors.

Tales of friction first surfaced when the Dabangg actor didn't meet Sanjay Dutt upon the latter's release from jail. While all friends of Dutt came to visit him, Salman was conspucious by his absence.

As per a report in Deccan Chronicle, the two actors were in Madrid recently for the IIFA awards, and bumped into each other at the hotel. As per reports, it was Dutt who walked upto Khan and the duo were then seen chatting for good 15 minutes. Dutt left soon, but not before wishing Khan for his upcoming release, Sultan.

He does get involved in rifts with his friends, but Salman is also known to forgive. We take a look back at instances where Khan displayed his merciful side.

Many wars with SRK 

Arguably, the greatest of all rivalries in Hindi cinema. Shah Rukh Khan held the upper hand for long, as he trampled Salman not only at the box-office, but also ruled the toost off-screen. Things turned ugly when the nearly came to blows at Katrina Kaif’s birthday bash in 2008. Buzz had it that SRK had allegedly made an unsavoury remark about Salman’s ex (Aishwarya Rai). For long they were never seen together but a new turn came in this rivavlry with Salman now turning the tables at the box-office. While he never made direct digs at SRK, Salman openly spoke in favour of Shrish Kunder and Ajay Devgn, when the duo were involved in a tussle with SRK. 

All the acrimony, the bad blood ended when in 2013, Salman and SRK hugged and made up at politcian Baba Siddqiui’s iftaar party. But the two were just finally being cordial with each other. It was at Salman's sister Arpita Khan's wedding celebrations that finally the two genuinely got together. Arpita had specially requested Salman to mend things with Shah Rukh on the ocassion of her wedding. The ice melted totally when Salman invited SRK to his reality show Bigg Boss last year. Things could have turned ugly again this year, with the Khans slated to clash at the box-office on Eid. However, Fan’s failure forced SRK to shift the release of Raees to 2017.

Salman and Subhash Ghai – No ‘thappad ki goonj’

Those were the days when Salman had just become famous as the bad boy of Hindi cinema - films flopping, heartaches, court cases. Nothing seemed to work for Khan then. Khan touched a new low when he allegedly slapped ‘the showman’ Subhash Ghai, upset over some nasty remark made by the filmmaker. Salman’s father understood the gravity of the offence, and rightly asked his son to seek forgiveness. Ghai was gracious enough to oblige and offered Salman Yuvvraaj. It’s a different matter though the film fared miserably. Ghai once again displayed his soft corner for Salman when he backed the actor over his controversial ‘rape remark’ recently.

Priyanka Chopra- foe-turned-4 am friend

This a rivalry that was perhaps underplayed. After meeting early success, Priyanka was climbing the success ladder and so she became picky in choosing her films. Salman’s had requested Chopra to play a cameo in his brother Sohail Khan’s production, Main Aur Mrs Khanna (2009), but she didn't oblige. Khan wasn’t amused and in the subsequent years, Khan took cheeky pot shots at Chopra, who chose to ignore the jibes.

Few year later, Chopra was courting all the wrong news for her alleged relationship with Shah Rukh Khan and a secret nikah in London. It was during this time, that Chopra needed a shoulder to cry on. So, one dawn of September, 2012 saw Salman become Priyanka's 4 am friend.  Since then the two have been cordial with each other, with Salman even promoting Priyanka's single In My City and Quantico on Twitter. And it just ain’t Salman, Chopra has grown closer to Bajrangi Bhaijaan’s sister Arpita.

Govinda – Good partner, bad partner?

Like the rest of the actors of his generation, Salman idolises Govinda, fondly calling him as Chi Chi bhaiyya. The duo had teamed up successfully for three films, the last of which was Partner in 2007. Khan agreed to let his lady love Katrina romance Govinda in the film. Partner was a hit, and it was long believed that a sequel would come any time soon. However, it’s been nearly nine years and nothing has happened. There was a rumour that, given Govinda’s falling stocks, Khan wasn’t keen to work again with the actor. Buzz also had it that Govinda made umpteen attempts to reach out, but in vain. A few years ago, this writer posed the Partner 2 question to Govinda, who rubbished all tales of a rift with Khan. The seasoned actor claimed that Khan was keen but he was occupied with other projects. That was Govinda’s version, but we didnt hear a word from Salman. However, gossip was put to rest when Khan invited Govinda to the sets of Bigg Boss 8. Partner 2 may not happen, but looking at their chemistry, one can safely assume that these two men are friends for life.’

Salman-SLB friendship goes to the dogs

His witty humour can sometimes get the better of him. Salman has always been indebted to those who’ve shaped his career. Sanjay Leela Bhansali had given Khan a rare hit in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999). This was also a film where he started dating Aishwarya Rai. The relationship between Salman and SLB soured when the director’s dream project Bajirao Mastani failed to take off. How could it, after Khan broke up with Rai. Khan took further offence when SLB roped in his rival SRK  for Devdas (2002).

They weren’t on talking terms and Khan shocked everyone by ridiculing SLB’s Hrithik Roshan-starrer Guzaarish (2010). Khan had compared Guzaarish to his SLB-directed film, Khamoshi, which he felt wasn’t even seen by the dogs. Bhansali got pissed, and so did Hrithik, who tactfully slammed Khan. While the Dabangg one made peace with Roshan, there was no apology to SLB. Khan is said to have further got upset when SLB made Bajirao Mastani without him.

The filmmaker, though, refused to be drawn into a tussle. In an interview to a daily, Bhansali explained the only reason Salman and he haven’t worked again is because he hasn’t found the right script for him. Early in March, 2016, Bhansali chose to bury the hatchet with Sultan by paying a visit to his residence. Salman is said to have spoken about his grievances with the director. The duo trashed out their differences and Bhansali left on a happy note.

Well, we wonder if Vivek Oberoi and Arijit Singh are reading this, they'd be wondering, when will bhai forgive them?