When Aishwarya Rai impressed Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam's director Sanjay Leela Bhansali with her eyes

Sanjay Leela Bhansali once opened up about his first meet with his Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The filmmaker recalled meeting her at the premiere of Aamir Khan's Raja Hindustani and was mesmerised by her eyes.

Aishwarya Rai and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's on-screen relationship began with the release of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. The 1999 release not only proved Aishwarya was more than just a beautiful face but her bond with the director continued as they collaborated on Devdas and Guzaarish. The actor had also once revealed that she was offered other movies, like Bajirao Mastani and Padmaavat, of Bhansali.

It has been 22 years since Aishwarya Rai-Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Hum Dil Chuke Sanam released.

However, did you know their first meet took place at the screening of Aamir Khan and Karisma Kapoor's Raja Hindustani? Sanjay Leela Bhansali had once shared anecdotes from his and Aishwarya Rai's first run-in, adding that it was her eyes that mesmerised the director.

Speaking with Filmfare, Bhansali had said, "There’s something in her eyes. That’s the most important aspect of her beauty. They are not ‘normal’. They are so powerful that even if you don’t give her dialogue, they emote. Some eyes have devi shakti (power of the goddess). Like Hemaji’s (Malini) eyes. Like Lataji’s (Mangeshkar). Also, her eyes are beautifully coloured and fill up naturally. When I met her for the first time inhi aankhon ka asar huwa tha (these very eyes had affected me deeply). I remember we were at the screening of Raja Hindustani."

On Friday, June 18, the movie completed 22 years of its release. Actor Ajay Devgn has shared a post on social media, with a couple of unseen pictures from the sets. "22 years of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam; Salman, Sanjay, Ash & I knew we were making a super-sensitive film. Didn’t think though that it would create history. Humbled," he said sharing the pictures.