Karan Johar’s original pick for the role alongside Shah Rukh Khan in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham was not Kajol

One of the most well-known filmmakers in the business, Karan Johar is responsible for many iconic movies, including Student of the Year, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, which is regarded as a contemporary Hindi cinema classic, is one of his movies that the public still adores.

Shah Rukh Khan, Jaya Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kajol, and Hrithik Roshan are among the film’s stars. Even though the public adores SRK and Kajol’s chemistry in the movie, Karan Johar previously said in an interview that Kajol wasn’t the original pick for the role.

Karan Johar said in a previous interview with Komal Nahata that Aishwarya Rai was initially preferred over Kajol to portray Anjali in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. He said, “I found out that Kajol wouldn’t be able to make the film since she was married and perhaps wanted to have a family while I was casting for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. I intended to speak with Aishwarya. When I arrived at Kajol’s studio at 3 p.m. on that specific day, I assumed she would say no, we would cry, and I would then go. Naturally, I felt awful since Kajol and I had previously collaborated.

He continued by saying that Kajol accepted his offer of the job and that he never had the opportunity to present it to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. He continued, saying, “But I don’t know what changed, Kajol actually wanted to do the film.” I so declined to see Aishwarya. However, I chose Aishwarya, and that’s when the string of “missing” began.

In the meantime, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan won numerous accolades for her role in Ponniyin Selvan II, directed by Mani Ratnam, and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani, which starred Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, and Shabana Azmi, marked Karan Johar’s directorial debut and became a hit.