Bollywood director extraordinaire Farah Khan recently dished on the challenges she faced when casting her hit debut film, “Main Hoon Na”. From heartthrob Hrithik Roshan to powerhouse veteran Nana Patekar, Khan didn’t hold back on who she really envisioned in those iconic roles.
Khan credits her longtime friend and collaborator, Shah Rukh Khan, for always being her biggest supporter. “Shah Rukh always backs my projects,” she said. “But for ‘Main Hoon Na’, I hit some serious casting roadblocks!”
The Hunt for Lucky
For the loveable Lucky (Lakshman Prasad Sharma), Khan originally considered Hrithik Roshan, Abhishek Bachchan, and even Sohail Khan. But fate had other plans. “After Hrithik’s huge breakout success, it wasn’t meant to be,” she revealed. “Zayed Khan actually landed the role at the last minute, and I loved his charm.”
Girl Trouble
Khan was keen on casting Ayesha Takia as the spirited Sanjana, but scheduling conflicts got in the way. “She vanished mid-shoot on another film – I was scrambling!” Luckily, Amrita Rao stepped in and proved to be the perfect fit.
The Search for a Villain
Believe it or not, Khan wanted Bollywood legends like Naseeruddin Shah, Nana Patekar, and Kamal Haasan as the film’s antagonist. Sadly, they all refused. That’s when Suniel Shetty stepped in and created a memorable baddie!
Despite these setbacks, “Main Hoon Na” (2004) was a massive hit – a testament to Farah Khan’s vision and tenacity.
