Bollywood’s love story with Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai just turned 25, and the nostalgia is hitting harder than Hrithik Roshan’s iconic debut dance moves! Back in 2000, this Rakesh Roshan directorial not only turned Hrithik and Ameesha Patel into overnight sensations but also left us all wondering, “What if Kareena Kapoor Khan had stuck around for her original role?” Yes, Bebo was the first choice. But destiny had other plans, and Ameesha stepped into the limelight.
Ameesha Patel opens up about replacing Kareena kapoor in kaho naa…pyaar hai
Kareena Kapoor was initially set to play the lead opposite Hrithik Roshan, but her exit from Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai became the gossip of the millennium. Rumour has it, Bebo felt director Rakesh Roshan was more invested in showcasing his son’s debut than balancing screen time for the lead pair. Kareena later claimed, “There are portions in the film where she has pimples and under-eye bags… If I were in the film, I would have definitely got a better deal. But I still feel that the attention would have been divided between us. So, I’m glad I didn’t do the film.”
Fast forward to 25 years later, Ameesha isn’t sweating the past. In an interview with News18 Showsha, she gracefully dismissed the “Kareena’s loss, Ameesha’s gain” narrative. “I think Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai was a gain for all the people involved in it. She’s gained a lot independently, and I’ve gained a lot independently. So, I don’t think we should go into equations,” she shared.
The movie became one of the biggest blockbusters of its time, with Hrithik and Ameesha becoming the ultimate Bollywood sweethearts of the early 2000s.
Stardom Hits Hard (In a Good Way)
Reflecting on her debut, Ameesha described the whirlwind of fame that followed. “The world starts worshipping you. There is a bounce in your step. You are recognized everywhere. With a film like Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, you live in their hearts.” She continued,“You’re recognized at airports, restaurants, gyms… that’s your first brush with stardom and it’s euphoric,” she said.
While Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai became a defining moment for Ameesha, Kareena went on to make a splash with Refugee and later, iconic hits like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Jab We Met, and Tanu Weds Manu Returns.
Both actresses have carved unique niches for themselves, proving there’s more than enough room for multiple queens in Bollywood.
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