Filmmaker Mansoor Khan, famous for his iconic films like Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), recently shared an interesting anecdote from the casting process of his 2000 action-romance Josh. The film, which starred Shah Rukh Khan as the lead character Max, revolves around Max’s twin sister Shirley, who falls in love with his rival. While Aishwarya Rai ultimately took on the role of SRK’s sister in the film, it wasn’t her role to begin with.
Khan revealed that Kajol was initially approached for the role of Shirley, but the actress had a strong and definitive response when offered the part. The reason? Kajol was hesitant to play SRK’s sister because of their successful on-screen romantic pairing in multiple blockbusters. At the time, Kajol and SRK’s on-screen chemistry in films like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ), Baazigar, Karan Arjun, and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was at its peak, and Kajol feared that playing his sister could disrupt audience sensibilities.
Khan recalled, “I narrated the script to Kajol because I wanted her to play the sister. After hearing the story, she got up to leave my house. She told me no. She wanted to play Max instead because it was such a charismatic character.”
So how did Aishwarya Rai come into the picture? Mansoor Khan explained that after Kajol’s refusal, he realized that casting anyone to play Max’s sister would be a challenge. Thankfully, Aishwarya Rai agreed to take on the role, and Khan believes it was one of her best performances. He added, “She was thoroughly professional. I feel that Josh was her best film.”
Khan also emphasized that both Max (played by SRK) and Shirley (played by Aishwarya) were equally significant characters in the narrative. He believed that despite SRK leading the film, both characters were parallel in importance to the plot.
The film Josh has since become a memorable part of early 2000s Bollywood, not only for its thrilling plot but also for the unique dynamic between SRK and Aishwarya, making it a standout film in both of their careers.
Sources By Agencies
