Filmmaker Dharmesh Darshan recently revealed that Aishwarya Rai was the first choice for Aamir Khan and Karisma Kapoor starrer ‘Raja Hindustani‘. He also stated that she was also approached first for Mela starring Twinkle Khanna.
In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Dharmesh recalled that Aishwarya was his first choice for Mela and also for the role of Memsaab in Raja Hindustani. However, due to her Miss World obligations, he decided to cast someone else, as he needed an actress fully dedicated to the film and Bollywood. He appreciated Aishwarya’s graceful understanding of the situation.
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He went on to explain that Aishwarya agreed to do a cameo in Mela opposite Faisal Khan, not Aamir Khan, as a gesture of goodwill. He praised her for driving hours to shoot the scene, especially since she had worked with big stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan.
When asked about internet users’ opinions that Aishwarya should have had more screen time, the director smiled and shared how women have often remarked, “What, sir? You gave Aishwarya a cameo and gave such a big role to Twinkle Khanna?”
During the conversation, Darshan also mentioned that the song ‘Chori Chori Hum Gori Se,’ featured in Aishwarya’s scene, was bought by Hollywood for the film The Guru. He also revealed that his songs ‘Pardesi Pardesi’ and ‘Pucho Zara Pucho’ from Raja Hindustani were included in the soundtracks of V For Vendetta and Holy Smoke, starring Kate Winslet.
