‘He was very physical with her’: Prahlad Kakkar recalls Aishwarya Rai’s difficult relationship with Salman Khan and its lasting scars; expert on how to move on | Feelings News

Ad guru Prahlad Kakkar, who knew Aishwarya Rai Bachchan from her early years in the industry, recently spoke about how difficult her rumoured relationship with Salman Khan had been for her.
In conversation with Vicky Lalwani, he recalled, “Her greatest hurt was being abandoned the industry for Salman. That was her greatest hurt. She really felt bad.” But when it came to the end of the relationship itself, he said, “She was relieved about it. The break-up was a huge relief. He was very physical with her. He was very obsessive. How do you deal with somebody who is very obsessive?”
Living in the same building as Aishwarya’s family at the time, Kakkar remembered how troubling things had become. “No. But I know. I was living in the same building. He would make scenes in the foyer. He would bang his head at the wall. The relationship had ended long before it ended. It was a relief for everybody; her parents, her, everybody. She wasn’t upset about the break-up. She was upset about being completely… Everybody took Salman’s side and not hers.”
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According to him, this lack of support from people around her left long-lasting scars. “That’s where her commitment to the industry actually cracked. Otherwise, she was very committed.”
Warning signs of obsessive or controlling behaviour in relationships
Psychotherap Sakshi Mandhyan tells , “Relationship obsession can manifest as Relationship Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (ROCD). Warning signs that you might notice gradually would be: extreme jealousy, need to control you, isolating you from other relationships, constant criticism, high need for attention, shifting blame, and leaving you in constant self-doubt or guilt.”
To deal with the obsessed partner, it’s important to have:
Clarity on healthy attachment.
Be observant if the person is trying to control you or form a connection.
Notice if your individuality is respected or compromised.
Reflect on whether you are constantly subtracting aspects of your life for the person.
Don’t make their excessive presence as a sign of affection.
How does a lack of support or belief from family, friends, or community worsen the trauma of leaving a difficult relationship?
The receiver goes through a range of durbed emotions, dorted thoughts, and an identity crisis while stepping out of a toxic relationship. Mandhyan notes that in a time like this, support from the environment aids healing and glues the broken pieces of their personality. Story continues below this ad
She adds, “However, when those closest fail to offer support or even side with the other person, the dress deepens. This is often called secondary victimisation—the experience of being hurt again, not the partner, but the lack of belief from others. It can cause self-doubt, prolong recovery, and in some cases even push someone back toward unhealthy dynamics because they feel isolated. It leaves the person in profound betrayal/baggage that constantly echoes as ‘nobody believes me’.”
When someone loses trust in others after a painful experience, what steps can help them rebuild confidence?
Rebuilding begins with the small, reliable routines, and therapeutic support can help restore a sense of control. “A traumatic experience requires a ‘Triadic’ treatment that would involve you (self-care), your environment (support and help from reliable people), and a mental health expert (science-backed intervention),” concludes Mandhyan.




