Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, in a throwback interview, recalled why she turned down Farah Khan’s Happy New Year opposite Shah Rukh Khan, clearing the path for Deepika Padukone’s role.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan almost made her grand Bollywood return with Farah Khan’s 2014 hit movie Happy New Year, but a tricky situation forced her to say no.
In a resurfaced throwback interview with Rajeev Masand, the star opened up about why she turned down director Farah Khan’s offer long before Deepika Padukone was eventually cast. At the time, Aishwarya was searching for the right project to step back into the spotlight after taking a break to welcome her daughter, Aaradhya.
Even though the movie was guaranteed to be a massive box-office success, Aishwarya decided to step away because of a very specific casting dynamic. Her husband, Abhishek Bachchan, was already signed on to play a major role in the film. However, the story paired Aishwarya romantically with Shah Rukh Khan instead of Abhishek.
The Robot actress strongly felt that having both of them in the same movie, but not as a couple on screen, would confuse fans, create awkwardness, and spark endless public debate that would distract from the film itself.
Looking back at the offer in her throwback chat, Aishwarya admitted it was an incredible professional opportunity that seemed almost tailor-made for her return. “So when I was asked for that movie, technically, it is a perfect comeback after motherhood,” she shared. “If you get to do a role like that in a big blockbuster like that, and have that release and that assured box office, you can already see that coming. Oh my God, I would have got to make that statement. I mean, what a movie to do.”
She also mentioned how exciting it would have been to perform in the film’s hit romantic track, saying, “Manwa Laage would be fabulous.” Yet, the real-life relationship dynamics remained a sticking point for her. She explained, “I am like, it doesn’t work in that dynamic. And why have that area of conversational debate when you are watching a movie?”
Saying no to such a massive film was one of the hardest choices of her career, but she ultimately chose her family life over professional gains. She admitted, “So walking away as a professional and as an actor wasn’t easy, but as a wife, you narrowed down to that decision.”
In the end, Deepika Padukone took on the role, helping turn Happy New Year into one of the biggest blockbusters of the year. Meanwhile, Aishwarya waited for the right timing and made her long-awaited silver screen return a year later with the action-thriller Jazbaa.
Speaking about Happy New Year, the film revolves around a team of misfits who enter a dance competition as cover for a daring diamond heist.
