The 'Jodhaa Akbar' actress turns 51 today, and it does seem that she is aging backward.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has had a remarkable career that very few can come close to. Whether it's the critically acclaimed films or big-ticket box office hits, she shines in both, and how! Her filmography includes 'Iruvar', 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam', 'Devdas', 'Chokher Bali', 'Mohabbatein', 'Guru', 'Dhoom 2', 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil', 'Jodhaa Akbar', and 'Ponniyin Selvan' among others. However, what's more interesting is the actress has rejected more films than she has starred in. And many of those turned out to be blockbusters after release, some even attaining the 'cult' status with time.
Well, as they say, one person's loss is another person's gain. Aishwarya's rejection of these films paved the way for actresses like Karisma Kapoor, Rani Mukerji, Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, and Vidya Balan to flourish. Today, as Aishwarya celebrates her 51st birthday, let's have a look at some of those films.
Yes, Aishwarya Rai was the first choice for the leading lady in 'Raja Hindustani', opposite Aamir Khan. And she received the offer just before her Miss India pageant competition. She turned the offer down as she wasn't very keen on pursuing an acting career at that time.
Speaking about why she had rejected the offer, the actress later shared in an interview with Vogue, "I'm often cited as the person who established the beauty pageant-to-films route, but that was not the case with me. In fact, I decided to participate in Miss India to step back from the film industry for a bit. If I hadn’t taken part in Miss India, 'Raja Hindustani' would have been my first film."
Aamir Khan and Karisma Kapoor in ‘Raja Hindustani’
Notably, the role was also offered to Juhi Chawla, who, too, turned it down due to her infamous "cold war" with Aamir Khan at the time. Eventually, it was played by Karisma Kapoor.
Hrithik Roshan's debut film, 'Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai', was a massive blockbuster that still outshines today's hits. Besides Roshan, Ameesha Patel also won hearts with her performance as Sonia in the film.
However, what may sound surprising to many is that director Rakesh Roshan's first choice for the role was Aishwarya Rai. She rejected the offer for some unknown reasons, and it went to - no, not Ameesha - Kareena Kapoor.
Hrithik Roshan and Ameesha Patel in 'Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai'
Kareena was locked for the role, and it was supposed to be her debut as well. However, after several days of shooting, she opted out of the film due to creative differences with the director. And then Ameesha came on board.
'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai', released in 1998, changed the career of everyone associated with the film. Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol gained further stardom with it, while Karan Johar got acceptance as a filmmaker in the industry. And it introduced Rani Mukerji who, despite her brief role, stole the limelight and took audiences by a storm!
Interestingly, KJo's first choice for Rani's role, Tina Malhotra, was his childhood friend and actress Twinkle Khanna (who reportedly was the inspiration behind the character). Thereafter, Johar offered the same to several A-list actresses, including Aishwarya Rai.
The Trio of 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' – Rani Mukerji, Shah Rukh Khan, and Kajol
Speaking about why she had rejected the role, Aishwarya later shared in an interview with Filmfare, "If I'd done the film, it would have been tittered that, 'Look, Aishwarya Rai is back to doing what she did in her modeling days—leaving her hair straight, wearing minis, and pouting glamorously into the camera.' Ultimately, the hero goes back to the more real person. I know if I'd done Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, I would have been lynched."
The list doesn't end here. Besides the above-mentioned films, it also includes 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham', 'Munna Bhai MBBS', 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa', 'Krrish', and 'Bajirao Mastani'. And it's not just limited to Bollywood; she also rejected the award-winning Hollywood film, 'Troy', where she was offered the role of Briseis, Princess of Troy.
