Vidya Balan Recalls Asking John Abraham for Help After Akshaye Khanna Confronted Her Over Rejected Film

Vidya Balan recalls a funny moment with Akshaye Khanna on Salaam-E-Ishq sets after rejecting a film opposite him. The actress shared the story at a recent summit.

Vidya Balan at the Bollywood Hungama Style Icons Summit, where she recalled a humorous encounter with Akshaye Khanna from the Salaam-E-Ishq set.

Source : IMDb

During a recent public appearance, Vidya Balan opened up about an awkward-yet-amusing experience from her early years in Bollywood. Speaking at the Bollywood Hungama Style Icons Summit, the acclaimed actress candidly recounted how she found herself in a tricky situation with actor Akshaye Khanna after turning down a film opposite him — and the moment she had to face him unexpectedly on set.

What was the story all about?

The incident dates back to the time when Vidya was shooting 'Salaam-E-Ishq,' Nikkhil Advani’s multi-starrer romantic drama that released in 2007. At the time, she had passed on a role opposite Akshaye Khanna, a decision that was communicated through her manager rather than directly.

“There was a film offered to me opposite Akshaye Khanna, and for some reason, I didn’t connect with the script. But I didn’t pick up the phone and tell him that. I asked my manager to convey it to the director,” Vidya said, recalling the professional dilemma many newcomers face.

Things took a turn when she unexpectedly found herself face-to-face with Akshaye during the shoot of 'Salaam-E-Ishq'. What followed left her rattled at first — until she realized it was all in jest.

“And then I met Akshaye on the sets of 'Salaam-E-Ishq'. And he fired me. He was like ‘Why didn’t you tell me you didn’t want to do the film?’ I went up to John [Abraham] and said, ‘Can you please save me?’” Vidya shared with a laugh.

Her honesty struck a chord with many, especially when she added, “Because I was so new, I didn’t want any confrontation. I didn’t want to hurt anyone or make anyone feel bad, or just feel like I was refusing a film with them. But of course, he was only pulling my leg. I later realized.”

About Salaam-E-Ishq

Though the film was a modest box-office performer, 'Salaam-E-Ishq' featured an ensemble cast including Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Govinda, and Juhi Chawla. For Vidya, the shoot added not only another title to her filmography but also a memorable behind-the-scenes moment that still resonates years later.

The actress continues to remain a strong force in Indian cinema. She was recently seen in 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3', alongside Kartik Aaryan, Triptii Dimri, and Madhuri Dixit. The horror-comedy, which released during Diwali 2024, emerged as a commercial hit. She also starred in 'Do Aur Do Pyaar', a romantic comedy featuring Pratik Gandhi, Ileana D'Cruz, and Sendhil Ramamurthy.