Bollywood's enduring heartthrob, Salman Khan, once proposed marriage to actress Juhi Chawla in the early stages of their careers, the actor revealed in a recent interview.

Despite his current superstar status, Salman Khan's proposal was declined by Chawla's father, citing the actor's then-incipient career as a reason.

Salman Khan, who has dominated the Indian film industry for over three decades, remains one of its most eligible bachelors at the age of 58.

The revelation came during a candid discussion about his personal life, where Salman Khan expressed his early fondness for Juhi Chawla, describing her as "innocent-looking" which had charmed him profoundly.

On her part, Juhi Chawla confirmed that Salman Khan had approached her for marriage at a time when she was primarily focused on building her career.

She admitted not knowing Salman Khan well enough then, as he was not as popular as he later became. Chawla's focus was on her rising career, which led her to decline the proposal.

Salman Khan's romantic history includes high-profile relationships with several leading ladies of Bollywood, including Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Katrina Kaif, making this revelation a rare glimpse into his less publicized personal endeavours.