Karan Johar didn’t want Kajol but Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to play the lead heroine in K3G; here’s why he changed his mind

This is why Karan Johar replaced Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and took Kajol as his leading lady in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Ghum.

By Manisha Mandal
Published: June 2, 2023 1:32 PM IST

Yes you read it right, there was a time when Karan Johar had himself confessed that he didn’t want Kajol but Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to play Anjali’s role in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Ghum and play Shah Rukh Khan’s leading lady, because at that time Kajol was married to Ajay Devgn and she wanted to start a family, so KJo thought that the actress wouldn’t be interested in doing the role, in one of his interviews that has been resurfaced on the internet, Also Read - Oscars 2024: Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, The Kerala Story to be India's official entry?

Karan Johar reportedly told Komal Nahta," When I was casting for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Ghum, 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 further added in the same interview," 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". Also Read - Rocky Aur Rani ‘subconsciously’ inspired by THIS real life Bollywood couple

While reportedly during shooting, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Ghum Kajol suffered a miscarriage and was broken by it. But today she is the happy mother of Nysa and Yug, who are all grown-ups, and today we cannot imagine K3G without Kajol. Well, she was meant to do this film.

While Aishwarya too wasn't very sad with the miss nd had even praised Kajol's performance in K3G, she had said, "He (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 were different. Of course, Kajol was fabulous. But that also went, and I could not do it." Well, like they say, there are some films that also decides the fate and this one was definitely for Kajol. Also Read - Karan Johar gushes about Ranbir Kapoor's patience; says he won't lose his cool even if he is made to wait for 14 hours on set

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ByManisha Mandal
Published: June 2, 2023 1:32 PM IST