According to media reports, this renowned filmmaker initially wanted Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai for his mega-budget film.

Bollywood actors Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai haven’t worked together in many films, but their on-screen chemistry in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam was widely appreciated. Today, we will tell you about a film that was supposed to feature them both. Read on to find more details.

Aishwarya’s Condition for Working with Salman

In 2018, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat was released, starring Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, and Shahid Kapoor in lead roles. The film created history at the box office, breaking numerous records. But did you know that Bhansali’s first choice for Shahid and Deepika’s roles were actually Aishwarya Rai and Salman Khan? However, due to a condition Aishwarya made, Salman Khan refused to be a part of Padmaavat.

According to an IMDb report, Sanjay Leela Bhansali initially wanted Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai for the film, but at the time, the two stars weren’t on speaking terms. Salman Khan agreed to join the film, but Aishwarya’s condition became the hurdle. She insisted that she would only work in the movie if Salman Khan played the negative role of Alauddin Khilji, so that she wouldn’t have to share any screen time with him. Salman Khan rejected this condition, which led to a change in the cast.

As a result, Bhansali had to change the cast and eventually decided to cast Shahid Kapoor and Deepika Padukone in the lead roles. Ranveer Singh was then given the role of the villain, Alauddin Khilji, a role he portrayed brilliantly, earning widespread praise for his powerful performance.

Padmaavat history at the box office

In Padmaavat, Shahid Kapoor played Maharawal Ratan Singh, while Deepika Padukone portrayed Queen Padmavati. Ranveer Singh’s portrayal of Alauddin Khilji was particularly lauded, as it marked his first negative role, and he captivated audiences with his intense performance.

The film earned a staggering ₹387.37 crore in India and ₹571.98 crore globally, making it the second highest-grossing film of 2018, after Sanju, starring Ranbir Kapoor.