Why is Bhansali not able to work with his fav Kareena? - Page 2

Kareena Kapoor:

“He (Bhansali) and I have wanted to work together for a long time now. And yes, he had offered me Hum Dil De… but at that time I was too young. Plus, I was also going abroad for higher studies. So I couldn’t take up that offer. Then Bajirao Mastani came up, but unfortunately that also didn’t work out. But look at my luck, eventually I had to be the Sanjay Leela Bhansali heroine,” says Bebo.

Originally posted by: Mugda

We know Aishwarya and Deepika are Bhansali's muses but they were not the original choice of his films. He always thought of Kareena first for his film but never got an opportunity to work with her.

For Khamoshi, he first wanted a teenage Kareena but couldn't manage to work with her. SLB then thought of Madhuri Dixit who also refused to work with a new director. He then cast Manisha.

For HDDCS, his first choice was again Kareena. Then Kajol and later Aishwarya.

For Devdas, he screen tested Kareena first. Then Aishwarya.

For Black, his first choice was Kareena but Amitabh refused to work with her.

For Bajirao Mastani, he wanted Aishwarya first but later officially signed Kareena. Still couldn't manage to work with her.

For Ram Leela, he cast Kareena but later signed Deepika.

Khamoshi

Sanjay Leela Bhansali started his career as assistant director for Parinda. Being on set and working with Madhuri Dixit in her prime he was besotted. He wrote Khamoshi for her. When she heard the script she found it too depressing (death of brother, traumatic childhood of character), plus she was already doing Prem Granth which dealt with rape and Yaraana which deals with domestic abuse around the same time.

He chased her for months but she was unconvinced. Next, I don't know which order it was in but he strongly considered Kareena Kapoor (of course adapting the age of the character to younger). He also spoke about wanting to cast Twinkle Khanna, with Dimple Kapadia to play her mother. But that didn't work out either. I'm not aware of any others that may have been approached. Finally he settled on Manisha Koirala.

Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam

He has said many times in public that he wrote the film and the character with Madhuri Dixit in mind. When he began the casting process, of course he wanted La Dixit, but he could not bare the humiliation of another rejection so he didn't approach her. (Later, after the film's release and success Madhuri has expressed regret at not being able to do the film and said she would have signed it if he'd approached her).

Kareena Kapoor was then signed up. A few years ago on Film Companion she revealed that she took a "signing amount". But then things just fell apart. I'm not sure why, can only speculate. I reckon she was faffing around with her date diary. She was juggling a potential big launch elsewhere.

He asked Kajol but she refused. He toyed with Manisha but wanted a fresh face. It was at the premiere of Raja Hindustani at the end of 1996 that he met Aishwarya Rai and he has said that he just knew she was his Nandini. And she was.

Devdas

Kareena Kapoor was so determined to get a role in the film that she turned up at his office with her mom Babita and sister Karisma in full Paro costume demanding a screen/look test. Of course Sanjay himself was dying to work with her, but for whatever reason it didn't work out. He also approached Kajol for the role of Paro but for reasons only Kajol will ever know, she refused.

Note: Aishwarya and SLB had a falling-out at one point after the awards season of 2000 (where HDDCS scooped all the awards). But they soon made up and Ash bagged the role, alongside Madhuri who finally fulfilled one of his longest ambitions.

Black

I do remember reading back in the day that Kareena Kapoor was supposed to do the film. But then he thought it would suit better to have her in Bajirao Mastani which he planned on shooting right after the release of Black. So Rani Mukerji got to celebrate Diwali early.

Originally posted by: filmfanatic45

She said this about him back in the day:

"Sanjay Bhansali is a confused director. He is a person who does not stand by his word. He doesn't have any morals and principles in life. Tomorrow, even if he is the next Raj Kapoor or Guru Dutt, and my films don't do well and if I'm a flop actress, I will still not ever work with him," Kareena had told Filmfare during an interview, according to Cosmopolitan.

🤣🤣. I dunno wat she meant here , but damn......isn't she an badass to comment like tht about an top director. Breath of fresh air from the other heroines grovelling for a role.

Originally posted by: Equine

🤣🤣. I dunno wat she meant here , but damn......isn't she an badass to comment like tht about an top director. Breath of fresh air from the other heroines grovelling for a role.

Not much of a badass. Just makes her an arrogant, entitled brat. She came with a lot of privilege, so she could still get by despite all the BS said by her. Imagine an outsider actress saying such stuff, she would be kicked out in no time.

Thank goodness, Bhansali movies are bad on their own, that we had to endure Kareena on top of that.

begum was 1st choice for ram leela too. its only when she announced getting married pissed SLB.

don't know if she was 1st choice for mastani...but damn she would have been perfect.

haan naachnaa nahi aata..but acting zaroor aata hai.

Slb is a task master. Kareena no doubt maybe a spontaneous actress but a lazy one. I remember one article which said that Deepika was almost in tears when he had shouted at her for not getting the scene right. Can't just imagine Bebo taking the scolding and all the embarrassment quietly. 😆 Imagine what if Dil mera muft ka was being choreographed by Slb🤪