Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, often regarded as one of Bollywood’s finest actresses, has given several iconic performances throughout her career. From winning the Miss World title to dominating both Bollywood and South cinema, Aishwarya has built a name for herself on her terms. However, like every other superstar, she has made some decisions she might still wonder about. During her peak, Aishwarya turned down some big films that went on to become massive hits. Let’s take a look at eight such roles that could have changed the course of her career even further.
Early Days in Bollywood – The Initial Struggles
When Aishwarya stepped into Bollywood after her successful modeling career, things didn’t go as smoothly as expected. Her early films failed to leave an impact at the box office. It wasn’t until Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam that Aishwarya became a household name. Her on-screen chemistry with Salman Khan and her outstanding performance won her immense praise. Following that, she starred in Mohabbatein alongside Shahrukh Khan, a major blockbuster that cemented her place in Bollywood.
As her career soared, Aishwarya became the top choice for directors and producers. However, she made some choices that still raise eyebrows today.
Aishwarya Turned Down Two Films with Aamir Khan
Aamir Khan is known for his selective film choices and is one of the industry’s biggest stars. During her prime, Aishwarya was offered two of Aamir’s biggest films—Raja Hindustani and Ghajini. Both of these movies went on to become massive hits, with Raja Hindustani establishing Karisma Kapoor’s comeback and Ghajini becoming one of the highest-grossing movies of its time.
Aishwarya has admitted that she was approached by Dharmesh Darshan for Raja Hindustani. However, at the time, she was busy with modeling assignments and didn’t want to switch to films. Later, she was also considered for Ghajini, but she decided to pass on that project as well.
Missed Chances with Shahrukh Khan – A Big What-If?
Aishwarya and Shahrukh’s on-screen pairing in films like Mohabbatein and Devdas was loved by audiences, and the duo was seen as a successful jodi. Despite this, Aishwarya went on to reject three of SRK’s major films. She turned down the role of Tina in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, which eventually went to Rani Mukerji. Aishwarya herself has shared in interviews that she was approached for the film but wasn’t ready to take on the role.
Additionally, she passed on two more blockbuster movies with Shahrukh—Dil To Pagal Hai and Veer-Zaara. Both of these films became iconic, and her rejection of these roles is often seen as a major turning point in her career trajectory.
Other Major Films Aishwarya Declined
Apart from missing out on roles with Aamir and Shahrukh, Aishwarya also said no to several other iconic films:
- Dostana – Aishwarya was the first choice for Priyanka Chopra’s role in Dostana, where she would have starred alongside John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan. However, due to other work commitments, she couldn’t take up the film.
- Bajirao Mastani – Before Deepika Padukone brought the character of Mastani to life, Sanjay Leela Bhansali had envisioned Aishwarya in the lead role for Bajirao Mastani. However, the actress chose not to do the film, which later became a milestone in Deepika’s career.
- Bhool Bhulaiyaa – Aishwarya was initially approached to play the role of Manjulika in Bhool Bhulaiyaa. The psychological horror film went on to become a massive hit, and the character of Manjulika, played by Vidya Balan, is still remembered as one of her best performances.
- Munnabhai MBBS – Another surprising choice Aishwarya made was turning down Munnabhai MBBS. The film, starring Sanjay Dutt, became a cult classic, and the role of the female lead eventually went to Gracy Singh.
What These Decisions Meant for Her Career
While Aishwarya turned down several of these big films, it’s important to note that every actor has to make tough choices based on timing, schedules, and personal preferences. Despite missing out on these blockbuster projects, Aishwarya’s career has been filled with many other successes. Films like Jodhaa Akbar, Guru, and Devdas have solidified her position as one of the most versatile actresses in Indian cinema.
At the same time, it’s interesting to think about what could have been if Aishwarya had taken up some of these roles. Fans still wonder how different Bollywood might look if she had starred in films like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai or Ghajini. Nonetheless, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan continues to shine with her choices, balancing her professional and personal life with grace.
