Throwback Thursday: When Karisma Kapoor REJECTED an SRK film!

Whenever we think of some of the most iconic films that Bollywood has given us from the 90’s, the SRK–Karisma Kapoor–Madhuri Dixit-starrer Dil Toh Paagal Hai is one name you simply cannot skip. But, did you know that Karisma had actually TURNED DOWN the offer of being cast opposite King Khan in the film?

As it turns out, the role of Nisha, which was eventually played by Kapoor, was also, in fact, the first choice for it. But, she turned it down after the first reading. Then, the hunt for Nisha almost went in circles and then, as probably destiny had it, came back to Kapoor.

Speaking about the same, Karisma Kapoor opened up about it in an old interview by saying, “Like you say it’s destiny because I must tell you that I was offered ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’ earlier, much earlier and I was like Yash uncle (Yash Chopra) I have, you know like I don’t I’ve much to do and anyway than that fizzled out and it went to all the other actresses. Every other actress in the Indian film industry and finally it came back to me and when it did, like my mum, my sister and me were like there has to be something to it. I mean it’s made an entire circle, it’s come back. I think you used do it because it’s meant for you and when I heard the role again, when it was revised and the entire script was ready, I was like this is me, I have to play Nisha.” 

On winning the National Award for the part, she said, “And like I came to know about it (when) I was in doing the world tour and I think we were in Toronto somewhere in Canada and in fact it was Tabu the actress (Karisma’s ‘Saajan Chale Sasural’ co-star) who called me and said ‘Congratulations you have done it’. I said I’ve done what, what are you talking about? Oh! You won the next National Award again oh great. So are you mad, you have won the National Award and I said for what? She says for ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’. I couldn’t believe it, I was like oh my god and we’ve have just come back from the show. It was in the three o’Clock in the morning and I woke up my mum and my sister and they were like we couldn’t believe it, I think it was one of the most memorable moments of my life.”

Well, this is proof enough that one can never beat destiny, as it will always give you what it has in store for you, no matter who you are!

Take a look at the video right here from the exact time: