'He believed in me even when I doubted myself': Iulia heaps praise on Salman

Mumbai: Bollywood superstar Salman Khan and Romanian singer-actor Iulia Vantur have long been the subject of relationship rumours. Their connection reportedly began during the filming of Bodyguard in Dublin, where the two first met. Since then, their bond has only grown stronger, both personally and professionally.

Iulia has been associated with several of Salman’s films, lending her voice to songs in movies like Sultan, with the most recent being Salman’s latest release, Sikandar, where she performed a rendition of the iconic Lata Mangeshkar classic, "Lag Jaa Gale."

In a recent interview with Filmfare, Iulia opened up about her journey in the Indian music industry and the pivotal role Salman Khan played in building her confidence. “No one can move forward without emotional support — especially from someone who has faith in your voice,” she said. “He was the one who believed in my voice and my potential when I didn’t believe in myself. At a time when I doubted whether I could sing at all, he encouraged me and gave me confidence. Even when my songs didn’t receive much acceptance, he stood by me.”

Iulia added that it was through Hindi songs that she found her footing in India. “There were people who believed in me more than I believed in myself, and that made all the difference,” she noted. “That emotional support was incredibly important to me.”

Salman and Iulia have frequently made headlines, not only for their professional collaborations but also for their public appearances together. While neither Salman Khan nor Iulia Vantur has publicly confirmed their relationship, their continued closeness and shared moments in the spotlight continue to fuel speculation.

On the professional front, Salman Khan has been traversing a rough patch, unable to deliver a solid commercial or critically acclaimed hit since his 2016 sports action drama Sultan, in which he starred opposite Anushka Sharma.

Despite the minimal success over the last decade or so, Salman continues to be a crowd-puller — especially in the B & C centres — with his movies raking in good numbers despite mixed reviews and underwhelming content.

Sikandar, the superstar’s latest offering, has also been panned by critics, even while box office trackers claim the movie has crossed the ₹200 crore mark.

Nevertheless, Salman continues to draw attention — both for his acting chops and for everything that goes on in his life offscreen as well!