“Pankaj Tripathi, Irrfan Khan, and Preity Zinta were original choices for Ishqiya,” reveals director Abhishek Chaubey

Abhishek Chaubey’s Ishqiya (2010) initially had a different cast lineup, which included Pankaj Tripathi, Irrfan Khan, and Preity Zinta. The director recently opened up about the challenges that led to the changes in the film's casting, shedding light on the reasons behind the departures of these stars.

The Original Casting Plans for Ishqiya When Ishqiya was in its conceptual stage, the film was set to feature some of Bollywood's most prominent actors. According to Abhishek Chaubey, Pankaj Tripathi was originally cast for the role of Khalujan, later played by Naseeruddin Shah, while Irrfan Khan was lined up to portray Babban, a role that eventually went to Arshad Warsi. Preity Zinta had also been approached and was even finalized for the part, having read an earlier draft of the script and expressed her interest. Why the OG Ishqiya Cast Changed Chaubey recalled a significant moment when Preity Zinta left the project while he was in New York. "I received the news that Preity had left the project," he shared during an interview with Mashable India. As he was processing this development, he ran into Irrfan Khan, who was staying at a luxurious hotel in New York. Chaubey narrated the film’s story to Khan, but the actor felt that changes to the script didn't align with his character, leading him to ultimately back out of the project.

"The script changes weren't in favor of his character. That's when I realized he probably wouldn’t do it," Chaubey added, reflecting on the tough decisions that shaped the movie’s journey. A New Direction for Ishqiya With the original cast no longer on board, Chaubey was tasked with reimagining the film’s key roles. The director reached out to Vidya Balan for the role of Krishna Verma, a move that turned out to be a game-changer. "Vidya immediately came on board," Chaubey said. In addition, the film's casting eventually led to Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi joining the project, both of whom delivered memorable performances that were pivotal to the film’s success.

Naseeruddin Shah, however, was initially hesitant about romancing on-screen. "I sent him the script myself, and he called me asking, ‘Are you sure you want me for this?’" Chaubey recalled. Despite his doubts, Shah’s portrayal of Khalujan earned widespread acclaim.

Also Read: Abhishek Chaubey recalls being “overwhelmed” when industry extended support for Udta Punjab: “I was deeply and disturbingly aware of what is going on”

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