Lost & found, Bollywood style

In the Hindi film industry, someone's loss is someone else's gain.

Madhuri Dixit won't be playing Suryamukhi in Shahji Karun's film based on the life of painter Raja Ravi Varma. In all probability, Vidya Balan will now be essaying the role. Presenting other star replacements.

'Lagaan': Ashutosh Gowarikar first approached Shah Rukh Khan for the film, but turned it down reportedly because he thought it did not have potential. But this film catapulted lead actor/ producer Aamir Khan into a different league, taking him right to the Oscars.

'Chalte Chalte': Aishwarya Rai was cast opposite Shah Rukh Khan who was also producing this film. Her then boyfriend, the temperamental Salman Khan appeared on the sets and created a ruckus, halting the shooting midway. Shah Rukh thought it best to do away with Ash and replaced her with Rani Mukerji. The film did quite well and the loss was entirely Ash's, as after this incident SRK and Ash have never worked together.

'Page 3': Director Madhur Bhandarkar had approached Kareena Kapoor to play a page 3 journalist in his last year's hit, but she declined. Konkona Sen Sharma, who played the role, became the obvious beneficiary. An actor who was so far considered 'arty', she was suddenly noticed by many mainstream filmwallahs.

'Hum Tum': In this Kunal Kohli directed flick Hrithik Roshan was supposed to play the protagonist but eventually Saif Ali Khan was the uber cool cartoonist we saw on screen. The movie was a hit and Saif became the new the actor to represent urban cool.

'Kal Ho Naa Ho': Kareena Kapoor was Karan Johar's original choice but she did not do the film, because she felt the price she was being offered wasn't suitable. Preity Zinta grabbed it, but at what price we don't know. Thereafter for Preity it has been the time to disco, as the film became a huge hit!

'Rang De Basanti': Hrithik Roshan was to play Siddharth's role and Shah Rukh Khan Madhavan's role. Both felt they would be overshadowed by Aamir's presence and opted out. 'Rang De Basanti' was a hit.

source dnaindia