The internet has found a new obsession in the form of veteran actor Akshaye Khanna, but it's his past admiration for former Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan that is currently setting social media abuzz. Following Khanna's striking resurgence in popularity due to his role in 'Dhurandhar' and a viral dance to the track 'FA9LA', eagle-eyed netizens have dug up old clips that reveal his once-candid fascination with his 'Taal' co-star.
"Can't Take My Eyes Off Her": Khanna's Candid Confession
A recently resurfaced video from an old interview, shared widely on platforms like Reddit, features Akshaye Khanna speaking with disarming honesty about Aishwarya Rai. In the clip, the actor admits he finds it impossible to look away from her. "I can never take my eyes off her whenever I meet her," Khanna is heard saying. He elaborated that her beauty was "embarrassing for men" and that one would just keep "staring at her like a lunatic." This frank admission quickly captured the imagination of fans online.
The Viral Dance Video from Miami
Adding fuel to the nostalgic fire, another user promptly shared an archival video from 1999 that seemed to visually confirm Khanna's words. The clip shows Akshaye Khanna and Aishwarya Rai dancing together on stage at an event in Miami, USA. They performed to the song "Taal Se Taal Mila" from their hit film 'Taal'. Viewers were quick to note Khanna's visibly smitten demeanor throughout the performance, with many commenting that his body language perfectly matched his later interview statements.
The online reaction was swift and affectionate. One social media user remarked, "He was not lying when he said, 'I just can't take my eyes off her.'" Another added, "He was absolutely smitten by Aishwarya during the making of their first film together." The combination of the interview confession and the dance video created a perfect storm of throwback Bollywood content.
A Look Back at Their On-Screen Collaboration
Akshaye Khanna and Aishwarya Rai, who both made their cinematic debuts in 1997, collaborated on two films. In 1999, they starred together in Subhash Ghai's musical blockbuster 'Taal' and in Rishi Kapoor's directorial venture 'Aa Ab Laut Chalen'. While 'Taal' was a major success, the latter film did not fare well commercially. 'Aa Ab Laut Chalen' also marked the end of their professional partnership on screen.
During the filming of these projects, rumors swirled about a possible off-screen romance between the two stars, with speculation suggesting they dated for nearly a year. These rumors have never been confirmed, as neither actor has publicly addressed the dating claims. The speculation reportedly subsided after Aishwarya Rai signed Sanjay Leela Bhansali's iconic film 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam'.
This recent online trend underscores how the internet continues to revive and celebrate moments from Bollywood's past, connecting new generations of fans with classic anecdotes and chemistry that once captivated the nation. Akshaye Khanna's renewed fame has effectively opened a window to a beloved chapter of late-90s Hindi cinema, centered around one of its most celebrated leading ladies.
