More than two decades after Akshay Kumar and Shilpa Shetty’s relationship became one of Bollywood’s most discussed romances, filmmaker Suneel Darshan has offered his recollection of how serious the relationship had become.
Darshan, who directed the two actors in the 1999 film Jaanwar, said in a recent interview with Minutes of Masala that he believed Akshay and Shilpa were approaching marriage before their relationship ended.
“Akshay Kumar and Shilpa Shetty had a very strong relationship. I thought they were almost getting married. But destiny, you know, there were some misunderstandings and they broke up,” Darshan said.
His comments are a retrospective account of the relationship and should not be treated as independent confirmation from either Akshay or Shilpa about marriage plans.
Suneel Darshan Revisits Akshay-Shilpa Relationship
Akshay Kumar and Shilpa Shetty became close after working together during the 1990s, with Main Khiladi Tu Anari, released in 1994, among their notable collaborations.
Their relationship subsequently attracted considerable attention in the entertainment press.
Darshan encountered the pair professionally while making Jaanwar. Looking back at that period, the filmmaker said their relationship appeared strong enough for him to believe marriage could follow.
According to Darshan, however, “some misunderstandings” ultimately contributed to the relationship ending.
He did not provide detailed evidence in the quoted remarks establishing what those misunderstandings involved. The central claim — that marriage appeared imminent — therefore remains Darshan’s recollection of events.
Their Personal Story Unfolded During a Difficult Phase in Akshay’s Career
Darshan’s account also places the relationship against an important period in Akshay Kumar’s professional life.
The filmmaker recalled that Akshay was struggling commercially in the late 1990s after a succession of films failed to deliver the desired results.
“Producers had stopped producing Akshay’s films after a point in time, because there was no saleability and marketability,” Darshan said while describing the actor’s position in the industry at the time.
That context makes Darshan’s recollections about the relationship only one part of the story. Akshay was simultaneously trying to regain momentum at the box office.
‘Jaanwar’ Became an Important Turning Point
Released in 1999, Jaanwar featured Akshay Kumar and Shilpa Shetty alongside Karisma Kapoor and became an important film in Akshay’s career during that period.
Darshan recalled that the film’s success helped change perceptions surrounding the actor.
“Jaanwar was released and became a hit. Akshay Kumar’s stardom took its first major jump,” he said.
According to the filmmaker, projects that had been moving slowly gained momentum after Jaanwar performed successfully.
Darshan specifically cited Hera Pheri and Dhadkan among films that subsequently moved forward more quickly.
Both became significant releases in Akshay’s filmography in 2000, with Hera Pheri in particular eventually developing a strong legacy in Hindi popular cinema.
Shilpa Shetty Was Not Initially Darshan’s First Choice for ‘Jaanwar’
Darshan also recalled an unexpected story behind Shilpa Shetty joining Jaanwar.
According to the director, Shilpa was not initially his preferred choice for the character. His mother suggested that he consider the actress for the film.
Darshan said he had reservations because Shilpa was associated more strongly with glamorous roles at the time, while the character he had envisioned required a more traditional appearance, including sarees.
He ultimately cast her and later felt that she handled the part successfully.
The detail adds another layer to the professional relationship between Darshan and the two actors during the period he is now discussing.
Akshay and Shilpa Eventually Went Separate Ways
Whatever the extent of their marriage plans at the time, Akshay Kumar and Shilpa Shetty eventually ended their relationship and moved forward separately.
Akshay married Twinkle Khanna in 2001.
Shilpa later married businessman Raj Kundra in 2009.
Their past relationship has periodically returned to public discussion over the years, but Darshan’s latest remarks are notable because they come from a filmmaker who worked with both actors during the period in question.
At the same time, his recollections should be understood for what they are: the observations of someone who knew and worked with the pair, rather than a new statement from Akshay or Shilpa confirming that a wedding had formally been arranged.
Why Suneel Darshan’s Comments Are Drawing Attention
The story combines two parallel chapters from Akshay Kumar’s late-1990s career — a turbulent personal relationship and a professional period in which his box-office position was under pressure.
Darshan’s recollection suggests that both were unfolding around the same time that Jaanwar arrived in cinemas.
The film's performance was followed by a substantially stronger period for Akshay, with releases including Hera Pheri and Dhadkan contributing to the next phase of his career.
The claim about a possible marriage, however, belongs specifically to Darshan’s account. Without a contemporary confirmation from the two actors, describing them as having definitely decided to marry would go beyond what the available evidence establishes.
