Chetan Bhagat recently opened up about how Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra Jonas were the first choice for '2 States'. As we all saw, the roles eventually went to Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt.
However, there are many other iconic roles which also almost went to someone else, and the stars we now associate with these films were sometimes second choices, or even last-minute replacements.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in 'Chalte Chalte'
Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan share one of the most iconic pairings in Hindi cinema. But few know that before Rani Mukerji stepped in, Aishwarya was cast opposite SRK in 'Chalte Chalte.' She had even shot for a day before an alleged on-set fallout led to her replacement.
Ranveer Singh in 'Bombay Velvet'
Anurag Kashyap recently opened up about how he had initially envisioned Ranveer Singh as the lead in 'Bombay Velvet', right before he became a superstar. However, the role eventually went to Ranbir Kapoor. The noir aesthetic of the film might have come out completely different with the intense energy of Ranveer right at the center.
Kareena Kapoor Khan in 'Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai'
Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor Khan were to make their Bollywood debut together in 'Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai'. Kareena even shot a few scenes as Sonia but left midway, and Amisha Patel replaced her. The film launched Hrithik's career, made Amisha a household name, and became one of the biggest blockbusters of that year.
Saif Ali Khan in 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge'
A long time before Shah Rukh Khan made Raj Malhotra iconic, Saif Ali Khan was approached for the role. He refused, paving the way for SRK to go on and become one of Bollywood's most loved romantic heroes. 'DDLJ' is an eternal classic, and till date, Raj is synonymous with Shah Rukh.
Govinda in 'Taal'
Subhash Ghai's musical drama 'Taal' almost featured Govinda as the flashy music producer Vikrant Kapoor. Govinda reportedly opted out, fearing he'd be upstaged by Aishwarya Rai. Anil Kapoor took the role and pulled off one of his most lauded performances.
Katrina Kaif in 'Chennai Express'
Katrina Kaif was initially offered the role before Deepika Padukone turned into Meenamma. Language barriers saw her back off, paving the way for Deepika. Her chemistry with SRK turned this film into a blockbuster and added yet another iconic pairing to Hindi cinema.
Salman Khan in 'Baazigar'
Baazigar introduced Shah Rukh Khan as an anti-hero. Salman Khan was offered the film first but turned it down because the lead had grey shades.
Aamir Khan in 'Darr'
Before Shah Rukh Khan's iconic "K… K… Kiran," happened Aamir Khan was approached to play the obsessive lover in 'Darr'. Uncomfortable with a negative role, he declined, giving SRK the chance to deliver one of Bollywood's most unforgettable performances.
How casting switches in Bollywood shape careers
Every casting decision has the power to make or break a career, a film, or even Bollywood history. Some of the greatest on-screen moments we remember today almost didn't happen, proving that timing, chance, and a little bit of fate play as big a role as talent in cinema.
What if these casting choices had gone differently? Would Bollywood's landscape look the same? It’s clear that behind every iconic role is a story of chance and choice that shaped history.
