Filmmaker Farah Khan recently confirmed an interesting casting revelation that surprised many Bollywood fans. While interacting with paparazzi alongside actress Amisha Patel, Farah revealed that Hrithik Roshan and Amisha Patel were originally cast in her 2004 directorial debut Main Hoon Na, in roles that were eventually played by Zayed Khan and Amrita Rao.
The conversation began when a paparazzo spotted Farah and Amisha posing together and asked, “Is it true that Amisha Patel and Hrithik Roshan were the original cast of Main Hoon Na instead of Zayed Khan and Amrita Rao?” Farah responded candidly, saying, “Yes, they were finalized before Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai got released. Then they became very huge stars, and I wanted fresh new faces for Main Hoon Na opposite Shah Rukh Khan and Sushmita Sen.”
Farah’s statement confirms long-standing speculation about the initial casting choices for the film. Main Hoon Na, which became a massive hit upon release, was a star-studded action-comedy that marked Farah’s debut as a director. It featured Shah Rukh Khan, Sushmita Sen, Zayed Khan, and Amrita Rao in pivotal roles, and was praised for its unique blend of Bollywood masala and emotional depth.
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At the time, Hrithik Roshan and Amisha Patel had just shot to fame with Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000), a blockbuster that turned them into overnight stars. Given their soaring popularity, Farah decided to recast the roles, opting for relatively fresh faces to maintain the balance of star power in the film.
This behind-the-scenes insight has stirred nostalgia among fans, many of whom are now imagining how different Main Hoon Na might have looked with Hrithik and Amisha in the younger roles. Still, the final casting turned out to be a success, with Zayed Khan and Amrita Rao earning acclaim for their performances.
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