Sometimes being a second choice isn't such a bad thing. Small screen's hottest shows and most wanted heartthrobs may not have made such an impact if the originals had stepped in.
Some prime time dailies might have even lost out on the screen scorching chemistry the lead couples created. Star Plus' TRP-topping show, Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? has the kind of mushy scenes and intense romance between TV's most romantic jodi Barun Sobti and Sanaya Irani around whom millions of fantasies are weaved of. Ironically, neither Barun nor Sanaya were the first choices for the roles of Arnav Singh Raizada and Khushi Kumari Gupta. Telly hottie Karan Singh Grover had been offered the role of the unsmiling, arrogant biz tycoon and the actor had even gotten his look test done, say insiders. Shraddha Arya, currently playing the role of Laxmi in Main Laxmi Tere Angan Keon Life OK had been almost finalised for Sanaya's role. Until KSG's interest in his film career changed everything and Barun, who was "not convinced in the beginning"about Arnav's role sailed through the look test, besting Mohit Sehgal to the role.
Arjun Bijlani, who essayed the role of the studious Mayank in Miley Jab Hum Tumhad been signed up to play the role of Samrat, which was later on played by Mohit Sehgal. Arjun was in a rush and couldn't "wait for MJHTto take off". When MJHTfinally went on air, he was asked to play Mayank and the rest became history, when his romantic scenes with Rati Pandey made him a teen icon.
Shilpa Anand, the first Riddhima of Star One's Dill Mill Gayyehad been initially offered the role of Anjali, for which Sunaina Gulia was signed up later. When Shilpa's look test was done for a promo of DMGwith Karan Singh Grover, their fabulous screen chemistry, made the makers change their minds immediately. So, Shilpa became Riddhima and created soapbox's hottest jodiwith Karan. Five years after, the two of them continue to be much wanted by producers and fans.
Shortly after his stint on Bigg Boss5 ended on an unhappy note for him, Amarr Upadhay, aka Mihir of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thiwent on record to say that he had been offered the lead role in an Ekta Kapoor show to be aired on Sony. Sources in the channel hint that he was the first choice to play Pradeep in Kya Hua Tera Vada, but things fell through because Amarr wanted a heftier pay cheque. Incidentally, Amarr, often called TV's first superstar had said 'no'to Ekta twice over for two daily shows, one of which Kiran Karmarkar ended up doing with Pallavi Joshi. The other, Krimson Skiesdidn't take off. Iqbal Khan who catapulted to dizzy heights of celebdom with Kaisa Yeh Pyaar Haihad initially been offered an important role in Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki. Iqbal chose to do KYPHinstead,rewriting his own fate!
More recently, Shweta Munshi had been pencilled in to play the lead with Gurmeet Choudhary in Punar Vivah, but had to opt out due to "personal reasons". Shweta's playing a cameo in the same show, with Kratika Sengar playing the female lead now. Sukirti Kandpal was first offered the role of Purvi in Pavitra Rishta, but the actress cited the need for a "break"and the role eventually went to Asha Negi. The list goes on.
Of course, much like the movies, once a daily show becomes a chartburner and fetches rich TRPs, no one really cares about the what ifs. All that matters it the sizzling screen love that make audiences drool over their dream pairs.
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