Click here to follow Screen Digital on YouTube and stay updated with the latest from the world of cinema.
This is an archive article published on June 1, 2023
Karan Johar wanted to cast Aishwarya Rai in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham: ‘Because Kajol was married, I thought…’
Karan Johar missed out on several opportunities to work with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. He wanted to cast her in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham but eventually the role went to Kajol.
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham was released in 2001.
Listen to this article
Karan Johar wanted to cast Aishwarya Rai in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham: ‘Because Kajol was married, I thought…’
x
00:00
Filmmaker Karan Johar initially had Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in mind for Kajol’s role in his 2001 film Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. He believed that Kajol might not be available and considered casting Aishwarya instead. However, things took a different turn, and he missed the opportunity to work with Aishwarya. Karan and Aishwarya finally worked together in the 2016 film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.
In an earlier interview with Komal Nahta, Karan had said, “When I was casting for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, I got to know that Kajol won’t be able to do the film because she was married and maybe she wanted to start a family. I thought I will approach Aishwarya. On that particular day, at 3 p.m. I reached Kajol’s studio and I thought she will say no, we will shed some tears and I will leave. I, of course, felt bad because Kajol had already worked with me.”
He continued, “But I don’t know what changed, Kajol actually wanted to do the film. So, I did not go to meet Aishwarya. But Aishwarya was my choice and after that, the series of ‘missing’ started.”
Aishwarya had opened up about the same in an interview with DNA. She said, “He (Karan Johar) did come to me with K3G also but then, his script went in for a change. So the character did change. I know that for sure because I know what was narrated to me and what I saw on screen eventually was different. Of course, Kajol was fabulous. But that also went and I could not do it.”
Besides Kajol, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham was headlined by Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor. It revolved around an Indian family that develops cracks after the adopted elder son (SRK) marries a girl (Kajol) belonging to a humble background. How the younger son ends the misunderstanding between his father and brother forms the crux of the story.
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Advertisement
Loading Recommendations...
Advertisement
Live Blog
Advertisement