Kajol ‘Rejected’ Aishwarya Rai’s Role In Josh; SRK Almost Declined The Film: ‘She Walked Out…’ – News18

Last Updated:November 23, 2024, 03:49 IST

Filmmaker Mansoor Khan recently revealed that Kajol was initially approached for the role of Shirley but rejected it for an unexpected reason.

The 2000 cult film Josh, directed by Mansoor Khan, depicted an intense rivalry between two street gangs, the Eagles and the Bichhoos, intertwined with themes of family and compassion. While Shah Rukh Khan led the Eagles as Max, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan played his twin sister Shirley, earning widespread acclaim. However, filmmaker Mansoor Khan recently revealed that Kajol was initially approached for the role of Shirley but rejected it for an unexpected reason.

Speaking to the India Now and How YouTube channel, Mansoor recalled narrating the film to Kajol and hoping she would play Max’s sister. “This is the ultimate sacrilege, after Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge,” Mansoor quipped. However, Kajol had other plans. “After she heard the story, she got up and was ready to leave my house. I said, ‘Kajol, are you doing the film?’ She said, ‘No, I want to play Max.’ Then she walked out,” Mansoor shared, laughing.

Luckily for Mansoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan stepped into the role of Shirley and delivered a memorable performance. Mansoor praised her as a “thoroughly professional” actor who never complained and described Josh as one of her best films.

The casting for Josh wasn’t just challenging for Shirley’s role. Mansoor revealed that Shah Rukh Khan initially declined the role of Max due to casting confusion. Mansoor explained, “When I told Aamir [Khan] the story, he assumed that he was playing Max.” This misunderstanding led Shah Rukh to believe that Aamir was already cast in the film, prompting him to back out initially. However, after clarifying the roles, SRK agreed, and the rest is history.

Mansoor also shared that he had considered Aamir Khan for the role of Rahul Sharma, eventually played by Chandrachur Singh. “My thought was, both characters are equally important,” he explained, adding that securing the final cast was a challenging process.

Despite these hurdles, Josh turned out to be a commercial success, with its unique storyline, memorable performances, and iconic music.