Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra were once known for their close bond, which was widely recognized across the film industry. Priyanka often expressed her admiration for Shah Rukh, while he held her close to his heart. However, their friendship didn’t sit well with many in the industry, including Shah Rukh's wife, Gauri Khan.
When Shah Rukh Khan addressed his relationship with Priyanka Chopra
Around 2011, rumours of an alleged affair between the two began circulating, causing a stir in the media. The closeness between Shah Rukh and Priyanka reportedly grew during the filming of 'Don'. They were often seen together at nightclubs, parties, and various events, fueling speculation.
Recently, a video resurfaced where Shah Rukh addressed these allegations, leaving some of his fans disheartened, as they had always viewed him as a "one-woman man."
In the video, where Shah Rukh was seated alongside Katrina Kaif, he responded to the rumours, expressing his discomfort over how Priyanka had been treated. He emphasised that the actress, who had worked with him, had been unfairly questioned.
He stated: "To me, what is most disturbing is the fact that a lady who's worked with me has been questioned, and somewhere down the line, she's not being shown the kind of respect I show her or all the women. I think it’s a little disrespectful."
Shah Rukh also apologised to his fans, clarifying that his apology wasn't due to any personal wrongdoing but because Priyanka was his friend, someone he held dear.
"I'm extremely sorry about that. Sorry means... it’s not directly because of anything I’ve done but because she’s my friend. She’s one of the closest friends I have, very close to my heart, and always will be."
Shah Rukh and Priyanka's first meeting
During the same interview, Shah Rukh praised Priyanka's accomplishments and reminisced about their first meeting during a beauty pageant where her journey to becoming Miss World began.
"She's a little girl who started her Miss India or Miss World crowning with me—I don’t remember. We've shared some of the nicest moments on screen as friends, and it’s unfortunate. It's extremely unfortunate and sad for me to think that, you know, a friendship gets a little soiled," he shared.
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When Priyanka Chopra hinted at dating SRK
Adding to the controversy, Priyanka Chopra nearly confirmed rumours of dating Shah Rukh Khan during her appearance on Laura Brown’s show 'Dirty Laundry'. While showcasing a brown leather jacket, Priyanka revealed:
"I was a little unsure about this one, whether I should (get it or not). But your show is called 'Dirty Laundry', so I thought might as well. This is a jacket that I literally live in. It's my airport jacket, but it belonged to an ex-boyfriend."
Eagle-eyed fans quickly noticed that the jacket closely resembled one Shah Rukh had been seen wearing in the past. Priyanka further fueled the speculation when she liked a tweet that read, "OMG Priyanka Chopra might have just told the world about her relationship with Shah Rukh Khan," only to unlike the post hours later.
What went wrong between Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra
As for what went wrong between Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra, it’s been speculated that trouble brewed at Mannat, Shah Rukh’s residence, after Gauri Khan caught wind of the rumours about her husband's alleged affair. Reports suggest that Gauri had warned Shah Rukh against working with Priyanka again. Allegedly, Gauri's close friends, including Karan Johar, joined in the boycott of Priyanka, which led to her being sidelined from film offers and endorsements.
Though no official confirmation was ever made, Shah Rukh and Priyanka soon stopped making public appearances together, and breakup rumors followed. Since then, the two have never shared the screen again.