Summary: Karan Johar wanted to cast Aishwarya Rai in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham: ‘Because Kajol was married, I thought…’
Key Highlights:
Karan Johar’s initial choice for Kajol’s role in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was considered for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham
Karan Johar’s reason for considering Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Kajol’s availability for the film
Filmmaker Karan Johar initially had Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in mind for Kajol’s role in his 2001 film Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. He considered using Aishwarya in place of Kajol since he thought she might not be available.
He lost the chance to work together with Aishwarya when things went differently. In the 2016 movie Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Karan and Aishwarya finally reunited.
In an earlier interview, 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, She said, “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.”
Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, and Kareena Kapoor were the stars of Kajol, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.
It was about an Indian household that begins to fall apart as the adopted older son (SRK) weds a girl from a modest upbringing (Kajol). The key to the story is how the younger son resolves the conflict between his father and brother.