• Source:JND
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Did you know that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was the original choice to play the female lead in the 2003 romantic drama Chalte Chalte? In fact, she had even started shooting for the film with Shah Rukh Khan and was all set to bring her charm to the big screen once again. However, in an unexpected turn of events, she was later replaced and the role eventually went to Rani Mukerji, who starred opposite Shah Rukh in the final version of the film. The sudden change of casting came as a shock to many at the time and the reason behind Aishwarya’s exit from the project turned out to be quite dramatic, with connections to her personal life that stirred major headlines in the industry.

According to a report in News18, Aishwarya Rai had to step away from the film due to complications involving her then-boyfriend, Salman Khan. His repeated presence on the sets reportedly led to disruptions, creating delays and tensions during the shoot.

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Rani Mukerji and SRK from Chalte Chalte (Image: X/@RedChilliesEntertainment)

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Later, in an interview, Shah Rukh Khan revealed, "Very saddened at the fact that Aishwarya was a very close friend, I have done some really marvellous films with her and I genuinely mean that. She has been one of my favourite co-actresses and we’ve done some really nice work – Josh, Mohabbatein, Devdas, and we get along really well."

The actor further added, "Personally, it is very saddening not to…for something to reach at thus level. I feel very sorry about it and I genuinely do."

He explained that, as a producer, his options were limited since he wasn’t the only one involved in the project. He pointed out that a whole team, including UTV, was part of the production and the decision had been a collective one made by around 10–11 people. He further mentioned that the production house itself wasn’t doing very well at the time and their reputation was on the line. For that reason, they were determined to wrap up the film within three to four months.

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"Personally, if you ask me, Aishwariya is very professional but I think were a little sadden by the whole affair and we thought it wasn’t meant to be. It was not superstition, it was a professional decision and even professionally we feel very bad. There’s no two ways about it," he said.

In the early 2000s, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Salman Khan’s relationship became one of the most widely discussed love stories in Bollywood. The two first crossed paths on the sets of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, where their captivating on-screen chemistry gradually blossomed into a real-life romance.