Why didn’t Mahima play the lead in Dhadkan?

I only remember this movie for Mahima. She should have been the lead, not Shilpa. What do you think?

Mahima looked so pretty in aksar iss duniya mein more than Shilpa ! She could have played the role well for sure.

Mahima was good but Dhadkan will always be Shilpa's signature film, just like Rangeela was to Urmila and
Raja Hindustani was to Karisma.

Now, important movie Trivia:

Dhadkan was 'under production' for a good time period of 6-7 years, and it was delayed several times. Sometime in late 90s, Mahima was cast for her part (owing to her popularity post Pardes). By that time, several portions of the film were already shot.. So even hypothetically, Mahima couldn't have played the lead in Dhadkan.

Mahima's song was better than Shilpa's performance as the lead. Shilpa looked weird in it.

Because Shilpa was prettier, hotter and makers wanted to capitalise on popularity of Akshay-Shilpa jodi due to their previous hits together and real life affair at one point of time around mid 90s.

Mahima was new and struggling to stay afloat after Pardes. She had only one hit in Daag in 1999 after Pardes (1997). Her films were not doing well. Dhadkan is her last clean hit if I am not mistaken.