Karan Johar wanted to cast Aishwarya, not Kajol in ‘Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham’

The ‘Devdas’ actor revealed the character offered to her was different than what she saw on screen

In a surprising revelation, filmmaker Karan Johar disclosed that he had originally considered casting Aishwarya Rai Bachchan for the role played by Kajol in his 2001 blockbuster film Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Karan, anticipating that Kajol might not be available for the project, had Aishwarya in mind as a potential replacement.

However, fate had other plans, and he missed the opportunity to collaborate with the Devdas actor at that time. It wasn't until 2016 that Karan and Aishwarya finally joined forces for the film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

During an old, resurfaced interview with Komal Nahta, Karan shared his thoughts on the casting process for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. "When I was casting for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, 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 pm, 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," Johar was quoted by The Indian Express.

He further explained, "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."

The former Miss World also confirmed the same, however, she revealed that Karan actually did approach her for the film. In an interview with DNA, shedding light on the developments surrounding Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, she shared, "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 was different. Of course, Kajol was fabulous. But that also went, and I could not do it."

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, a star-studded film, featured an ensemble cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor, and Kajol. The movie revolves around an Indian family that faces internal conflicts after their adopted elder son (played by Shah Rukh) marries a woman (portrayed by Kajol) from a humble background.

The narrative focuses on how the younger son endeavours to bridge the misunderstandings between his father and brother, forming the crux of the story. The family drama is lauded as a classic.