Aishwarya's love life has been turbulent

She is excruciatingly perfect looking, with a drop-dead-gorgeous figure and is successful to boot. Yet, if all that is rumoured and written about her is to be believed, Aishwarya Rai has an amazing propensity for getting herself into trouble when it comes to love and relationships.

First it was the Ranjeev Mulchandani episode. Rai was apparently in a relationship with the then model, a matter that was kept largely under wraps until Manisha Koirala brought it into the media spotlight. The initial controversy was that Mulchandani had dumped Rai for Koirala. Then it got ugly.

Koirala claimed that she had discovered some love letters that Mulchandani had written to Rai, and promptly dumped him. Rai, through it all, insisted that Mulchandani was one of her ‘‘closest friends, and nothing more’’. Scene two, with Rai and Salman Khan featuring as key players, was chronicled better. At least Rai admitted that there had been a relationship. From their courting days on the sets of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam to their turbulent exchanges — her black eye (widely believed to be courtesy Khan) at a televised awards ceremony and Khan’s midnight ranting at her apartment suite — being a few incidents. Throw in some abusive behaviour on the sets of a couple of films starring Rai, where co-stars too were at the receiving end of Khan’s ire. Then it was learnt that Rai and Khan had split up, followed not long after by a rumour that the two had tied the knot.

There may have been no truth in that one, but it soon became clear that the sometimes-on, sometimes-off relationship was on again. Finally, after even Rai’s parents expressed their displeasure over her chosen man, the long time lovers split up for good. Then Vivek Oberoi, assisted by his gift of Sunshine (the now-famous puppy), stepped into Rai’s heart. Yet, Oberoi notwithstanding, is it all over between Rai and Salman Khan? If Arbaaz Khan is to be believed, Rai is still playing the tease. Calling his brother and chatting — her ‘‘regular nonsense’’ as he described it. He also added that while Oberoi confessed to having “something special” with Rai that he hopes will culminate in marriage, Rai told Salman that Vivek and her are “just good friends”. Where have we heard that one before? The fact is that while Rai tries her damnedest to keep her love life out of the news and away from public speculation, the men in her life can’t seem to do the same. They’re moved, by insecurity perhaps, into significant physical or vocal reactions. Salman Khan’s reactions to the beautiful Rai have always been volatile, though implied through association — drunken brawls, car accidents, tantrums and the like — in response to interviews and rumours.

Now Oberoi has all but told the world what Salman Khan thinks is going on between Aishwarya and Vivek, in a televised press conference no less, and what he hasn’t said, Arbaaz Khan has. Our question is this: Why has Rai not been able to make that final cut from Khan? Especially considering the new man in her life thinks that they have “something special” going. Lingering feelings? Misplaced affection? Just wanting attention from whichever quarter she can get it? Only Rai has the answers. But here’s a fact: Khan and Rai are now doing a film together. And that will not help matters at all.