Soha Ali Khan has done it all – iconic films, even dabbling in fitness, and now podcasts. But did you know she had her own rollercoaster right before stepping into Bollywood? Even before she faced the camera, she lost out on what could’ve been her big fat Bollywood debut – Paheli opposite none other than Shah Rukh Khan.
The Almost-Debut of Soha Ali Khan That Never Happened
Soha recently confessed that Paheli was supposed to be her first film. She was all set, script in hand, paycheck promised, dreams lined up. But then, the moment SRK signed the film, Soha got replaced.
At the time, Soha was pulling a solid salary at Citibank, she said, “It was my first film. I had a good job at Citibank and was earning well. My rent was Rs 17,000, and I was planning to move to London. But then Amol Palekar approached me with a film offer. I liked the script and the idea of acting, and of course, the pay.”
When King Khan Walked In
Everything seemed dreamy until Amol ji dropped the bomb. SRK was now the lead – amazing, right? Well, yes and no. Because along with King Khan’s entry came Soha’s exit. She shared, “I underestimated the skills required. When Amol ji asked me to quit my job for the film, I said yes, thinking it was confirmed.”
She continued, “Amol ji called and said Shah Rukh is now playing the lead. I thought that was great. But then he said, ‘That means you’re not doing it anymore. Someone else will be cast.’ I was shocked. I had already quit my job, thought, ‘Now what? How will I pay rent?”
Rani Took The Crown
Rani Mukerji eventually bagged the part, and though Paheli made it to the Oscars as India’s official entry, it wasn’t Soha’s launchpad. Instead, she had to pick herself up and start fresh.
Destiny Had Other Plans
Losing Paheli might’ve stung, but it didn’t stop Soha from writing her own story. She may not have kick-started her career opposite Bollywood’s Baadshah, but she went on to juggle indie gems, commercial hits, and even a few underrated cult favourites. Instead of chasing the typical “dream debut,” Soha built a career with choices that screamed individuality—and honestly, that’s far cooler than being just another leading lady in someone else’s fairytale.
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