Did you know Aishwarya Rai was first choice for Raja Hindustani and Mela alongside Aamir Khan? Here’s why it couldn’t materialize

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25 years ago today, the movie “Mela,” starring Aamir Khan, Twinkle Khanna, and Faisal Khan, was first released. This memorable film debuted on January 7, 2000. As we look back at the film’s history, director Dharmesh Darshan fondly remembered that Aishwarya Rai was originally intended for the movie, and he had also considered casting her in “Raja Hindustani.

During a conversation with Bollywood Hungama, Dharmesh Darshan reminisced about Aishwarya Rai as his initial pick for the movie Mela. He also recalled that she had been his first choice to play the role of Memsaab in Raja Hindustani. He shared that he deeply admired her and considered her for the part, but she was called away for the Miss World competition at the time. As he desired an actress fully committed to the film and Bollywood, he chose not to risk it. It was a testament to her grace that she took the opportunity with good spirits, he added.

He also mentioned that Aishwarya’s agreement to appear in Mela’s cameo for him, rather than Aamir Khan, was due to this specific reason. He commended her for making the decision and traveling a few hours to film that particular scene, given her past collaborations with stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan.

When inquired about internet users’ opinions on increasing Aishwarya’s screen time in the movie, the seasoned filmmaker responded with a smile, acknowledging that he had been told, “‘Why sir; you gave Aishwarya just a cameo and such a large role to Twinkle Khanna!’

In our chat, Darshan mentioned that the tune “Chori Chori Hum Gori Se” used in Aish’s scene was actually bought by Hollywood for The Guru movie. Furthermore, he disclosed that his songs “Pardesi Pardesi” and “Pucho Zara Pucho” from Raja Hindustani were incorporated into the soundtracks of V For Vendetta and Holy Smoke respectively, where they played in the background during Kate Winslet’s performances.

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2025-01-12 16:52