June 13 marks another anniversary of ‘Chalte Chalte’, starring Shah Rukh Khan, which hit theaters in 2003. While the romantic drama was a commercial success, it is often remembered for the controversy that occurred long before its release.
The film became associated with the reported feud between two of Bollywood’s biggest stars, Rani Mukerji and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
A different leading lady was originally cast
According to NDTV, before Rani roped in the project, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan had already signed on to play the female lead in ‘Chalte Chalte’. Backed by Shah Rukh Khan’s production banner Dreams Unlimited, the film has begun shooting with Aishwarya in front of the camera.At the time, Aishwarya’s relationship with
Salman Khan
It often made headlines. Industry reports and Bollywood gossip columns claimed that frequent disturbances on sets created challenges for production.
As the situation attracted increasing attention, the makers eventually decided to move forward with a new lead actress.
An offer that initially did not interest Rani Mukerji
Interestingly, Rani Mukerji was not immediately convinced to join the film. Reports from that period indicated that she felt the character bore similarities to the role she had recently played in the film ‘Saathiya’.The filmmakers explored several options before finalizing the casting. Kajol was reportedly approached but chose not to accept the project.
Ameesha Patel’s name has also been linked with this role. Eventually, Rani agreed to join and became Shah Rukh Khan’s co-star in Chalte Chalte.At that time, Rani and Aishwarya were often seen sharing a warm friendship and were considered among the closest friends in the industry. But Rani’s inclusion in the film has sparked intense speculation.Many reports claimed that Aishwarya was hurt by the turn of events, especially since the role eventually went to someone she considers a close friend.
While neither actress has publicly discussed every aspect of the situation, industry insiders have frequently pointed to “Chalte Chalte” as the moment their friendship started to drift apart.
“Chalte Chalte” was a huge hit, but the story behind it lives on
When Chalte Chalte finally hit the theaters, audiences embraced the chemistry between Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji. The romantic drama performed well at the box office and gained appreciation for its music and performances.However, over the years, conversations surrounding the film have often returned to its troubled casting history rather than its commercial success. More than two decades later, ‘Chalte Chalte’ is still remembered not only as a beloved romantic drama but also as the film that became synonymous with one of Bollywood’s most discussed friendship fallouts.
