In a recent interview, composer Ismail Darbar suggested that the relationship between director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Salman Khan may have soured after Bhansali cast Shah Rukh Khan in "Devdas" instead of Salman. Darbar's perspective offers a glimpse into the possible reasons behind the rumored rift between the two.

Darbar, who worked closely with Bhansali on projects like "Khamoshi" and "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam," believes that Bhansali's decision to cast Shah Rukh Khan in "Devdas" was a significant factor in the fallout with Salman Khan. He stated, "My heart tells me that his equation with Salman soured because he hired Shah Rukh for Devdas. Isn't it obvious?". Darbar implied that after Salman had helped Bhansali in the past, Bhansali's choice to go with a "competitor" for "Devdas" would understandably upset Salman.

"Devdas," released in 2002, is a Hindi-language period romantic drama directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The film stars Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, and Madhuri Dixit in the lead roles. Based on the Bengali novel of the same name by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, the film tells the story of Devdas Mukherjee (Shah Rukh Khan), a wealthy law graduate who returns from London to marry his childhood friend, Parvati "Paro" (Aishwarya Rai). However, their marriage is rejected by Devdas's family, leading to his emotional deterioration and descent into alcoholism.

Salman Khan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali had previously worked together on "Khamoshi" and "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam". According to reports, a romance had blossomed between Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai during the filming of "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam". However, by the time "Devdas" began shooting, their relationship had reportedly taken a turn for the worse.

Adding another layer to the story, Salman Khan was apparently a frequent presence on the sets of "Devdas". In fact, he even had a cameo in the film. Anupama Chopra wrote in "King of Bollywood" that Salman had become a real-life Devdas, and during the filming of a romantic scene between Paro (Aishwarya) and Devdas (Shah Rukh), Salman volunteered to demonstrate the action. Bhansali filmed it and Aishwarya cried, marking the last time the two were captured on film together.

Ismail Darbar also revealed that he and Bhansali have had a complete fallout and that he considers Bhansali to be egoistic. Darbar stated that he wouldn't work with Bhansali even if offered ₹100 crore. Darbar also recalled tensions rising between him and Bhansali after an article was published that positioned Darbar as the backbone of Bhansali's work.

Despite any alleged tensions, "Devdas" went on to become a defining film in Shah Rukh Khan's career. The film was a commercial success, grossing ₹168 crore against a budget of ₹50 crore. "Devdas" also received critical acclaim, winning several awards, including four National Awards. The film's music, composed by Ismail Darbar and Monty Sharma, was also widely praised. Bhansali and Darbar reportedly spent two and a half years composing the music for "Devdas".