Siddhant Chaturvedi reveals he lost Imtiaz Ali’s Laila Majnu role despite beard and repeated efforts to fit

Before his breakout role in Gully Boy, Siddhant Chaturvedi was almost cast in the 2018 film Laila Majnu, directed by Sajid Ali and presented by Imtiaz Ali. In a recent interview with Just Too Filmy, Siddhant revealed that he had been shortlisted for the male lead, Qais, in the film that eventually marked Triptii Dimri’s debut.

At that time, Siddhant was 22 and trying to break into the film industry after his streaming debut in Inside Edge. He shared that during the audition process, the makers felt he appeared too young for the role. “I was shortlisted for Laila Majnu, and I was 22 at that point of time. Very close. The guy had to be older than the girl. I didn't know who was going to be playing the girl,” he said.

Trying to secure the part, Siddhant attempted to look older. “I grew my beard. My brother shot me in his new camera, and I made a profile that I sent them. Obviously, it didn’t work out,” he added. Ultimately, Avinash Tiwary was cast opposite Triptii in the film.

Though Laila Majnu failed at the box office during its original release, Siddhant recalled attending its screening just to see what he had missed. He complimented Triptii’s performance and later acknowledged the film’s second life through digital platforms. Over time, the film developed a cult following, and its August 2024 re-release performed significantly better, earning over four times its original box office numbers.

Now, Siddhant and Triptii are coming together for Dhadak 2, directed by Shazia Iqbal. The film is a spiritual successor to Dhadak and a Hindi remake of Pariyerum Perumal. Produced by Dharma Productions, Zee Studios, and Cloud 9 Pictures, the film is set to hit theatres on August 1. Siddhant’s anecdote reflects the unpredictable nature of casting decisions and the quiet persistence often required before a breakthrough.