Mumbai: Famed Bollywood filmmaker and director Farah Khan has lifted the lid on a surprising secret regarding the casting of her blockbuster film, ‘Main Hoon Na,’ revealing that actress Amrita Rao was not originally her first choice for the lead female role.
During a session for her recent vlog, which was filmed at Amrita Rao’s residence, Farah Khan disclosed that she had initially finalized actress Ayesha Takia for the film. However, just two weeks before the shooting schedule was due to commence, Ayesha Takia abruptly quit the project to sign a film directed by Imtiaz Ali.
Recalling the stressful situation, Farah Khan explained that “we had only two weeks left before the shoot, and we had no heroine. We had already booked St. Paul’s School in Darjeeling, and everyone had arrived.” She humorously noted that when she called Ayesha to discuss costumes and scenes, the actress refused, citing her commitment to Imtiaz Ali’s project for the next two months.
In a moment of crisis, Farah Khan was advised by Gauri Khan, the film’s producer Shah Rukh Khan’s wife, to consider Amrita Rao. Farah admitted that Amrita did not initially look the part when she met her, as she was dressed very simply. However, after giving Amrita an emotional scene, Farah found her performance on camera to be “like a fire,” comparing her on-screen magic to that of the legendary actress Sridevi, while maintaining a simple demeanor off-screen.
Amrita Rao ultimately took on the role of Sanjana Bakshi alongside Zayed Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, a character that resonated deeply with the audience. ‘Main Hoon Na’ went on to become a major success, earning approximately 70 crore rupees at the box office. Conversely, the film Ayesha Takia chose, ‘Socha Na Tha,’ which marked Abhay Deol’s debut, failed to achieve significant success at the box office.
