When Hotmail founder Sabeer Bhatia's link-up with Aishwarya Rai led to a heated run-in with Salman Khan

Hotmail co-founder once found himself in an unexpected face-off with Bollywood superstar Salman Khan over his admiration for actress Aishwarya Rai.

Sabeer gets linked to Aishwarya

Over two decades ago, Bhatia found himself amid link-up rumours with Ash after candidly expressing his fondness for the beauty and desire to marry her.

Sabeer runs into Salman

According to the throwback TOI report, this bold proposal of sorts didn't go unnoticed by Salman Khan, who allegedly confronted the businessman at a party in 2001.

Khan allegedly approached Bhatia and said, “So you’re the guy who wants to marry Ash?” Taken aback, Bhatia, who was accompanied by television host Simi Garewal, tried to dismiss the comment as media-fuelled rumour. But Khan continued, adding, “She’s a very nice girl.”

Salman takes a dig at Sabeer

The report goes on to state that while posing for photographs, Salman stepped between Bhatia and a woman. While wrapping his arm around the lady, the actor accidentally stubbed his cigarette against Bhatia’s hand.

While Bhatia immediately brushed off the ash, the actor reportedly quipped, “Oops. Finally, you’ve got ‘ash’ on your hands.”

The exchange raised quite a few eyebrows at the time.

Salman and Ash's relationship comes to an end

Salman and Aishwarya's romance reportedly came to an end in 2002. That year also marked their last film together - 'Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam'. Ash later went on to marry Abhishek Bachchan, with whom she shares a daughter, Aaradhya Bachchan.