Do you remember when the movie Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi hit the big screens in 2008? The mushy rom-com redefined the concept of arranged marriage with its compelling story. The movie also marked director Aditya Chopra’s comeback eight years after Mohabbatein (2000). Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi wasn’t just another Shah Rukh Khan blockbuster film, it was also when he shared the spotlight with a complete newcomer. The movie was Anushka Sharma’s Bollywood debut, through which she became an overnight sensation. Anushka as Taani Sahni aka Taani Partner still has our hearts. However, landing this role wasn’t easy for her as Karan Johar asked Aditya Chopra not to cast Anushka Sharma. Do you know why?

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Karan Johar on Anushka Sharma’s debut

An interview clip from the 18th MAMI Mumbai Film Festival (2016) is resurfacing on the internet. The interview features Karan Johar, Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in conversation with film critics Anupama Chopra and Rajeev Masand. While discussing his film, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016), Karan Johar revealed how he had ‘asked’ Anushka to sign for the movie. He said, “I don’t know with this generation, you have to ask them, ‘Will you do the film?’ officially. Because they’ll say something to you, then suddenly two days later, they’ll say something else. Not that she’s (Anushka Sharma) like that at all.” To this, Rajeev Masand replied how it’s the opposite as Karan Johar tried to “sabotage her career” initially. It was this interview where Karan made a surprising confession about his initial opinions on Anushka Sharma as a newcomer. Here’s what he said.

“I really sabotaged her career. And I really tried my level best. I totally wanted to completely murder Anushka Sharma’s career. Because when Aditya Chopra showed me her image, I was like, no, no, are you mad or what? Why are you signing her? Are you crazy?” Karan said. He further added, “There is no need for you to sign Anushka Sharma. There was another lead actress at that time whom I wanted Adi to sign. I was totally behind the scenes, sabotaging her completely. The movie also, I was reluctantly watching Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi.” But what changed Karan Johar’s perception about Anushka Sharma?

“I owed her an apology”

Karan wasn’t fully convinced after watching Anushka Sharma’s debut. However, her third movie astonished Karan as he was completely in awe of her performance. Appreciating her craft, he said, “When I saw Band Baaja Baaraat, I called her and I felt like I owed her an apology and a compliment. Apology because I felt so embarrassed that I could’ve ruined the craft of an exceptional talent. And secondly, compliment because I thought she was amazing.” This made Karan believe in the talent of many newcomers like Anushka. Furthermore, her excellence moved him to cast her in his film, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

While discussing the narration of ADHM, Aishwarya shared her conversation with Karan Johar about Anushka. She said, “When he narrated the script for ADHM, I looked at him and said, ‘Alizeh, Anushka?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, in fact, I just gave her the narration and she’s the only one I’ve just spoken to.’ So, as he was narrating it, I saw Anushka playing Alizeh and the first thing that I said to him was, you know, wow. She has to say yes; she can’t be thinking about it. She has to be doing it.”

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