While Cocktail 2 is now running in theatres, directed by Homi Adajania, featuring Shahid Kapoor as Kunal, Kriti Sanon as Ally and Rashmika Mandanna as Diya, some interesting stories from the first part of the sequel have emerged. Cocktail, starring Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Diana Penty, struck a chord with audiences back in the day. Almost 14 years after its release, Saif revealed that two actors had rejected his role in the 2012 movie.
Cocktail star Saif Ali Khan disclosed in an interview with Variety India that Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan had turned down the movie before he was locked. And the reason might be related to Deepika Padukone's character.
Who Rejected Saif Ali Khan's Role In Cocktail?
Saif Ali Khan recalled that the producers were having trouble finding an actor to portray the male lead, even though Diana and Deepika had already been confirmed for the movie. He speculated that the difficulty might have resulted from Veronica's role being the most appealing in the script.
"They had Deepika and Diana, but they couldn’t get a hero to play the part, probably because Veronica’s part is so delicious. I remember some names they asked. I think they had asked Imran Khan, and they had asked Ranbir Kapoor. And they had asked a few people, and I said, ‘Okay, cool, I’ll do it," he said.
Saif Ali Khan added, "And I think they should all be very thankful I did. That’s my story. Yeah, because I had great fun. I love Homi. And we had a good time doing it."
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Ranbir Kapoor also advised Deepika Padukone against acting in it, apart from turning down the movie himself. But the actress trusted her gut and gave one of her best performances in a Hindi film to date. In fact, Ranbir Kapoor later agreed that his judgment was wrong.
About Cocktail Movie
Cocktail followed three characters - Meera, a conventional and repressed young woman; Veronica, a fearless and independent woman; and Gautam, a careless flirt. Living together in London, the three become great friends, but their relationships take unforeseen turns that result in a convoluted love triangle. The narrative resonated with the urban audience as it examined friendship, modern relationships, love, and heartbreak.
Cocktail was a commercial and critical success. Songs like Daaru Desi, Second Hand Jawaani, and Tum Hi Ho Bandhu from the movie also gained enormous popularity. In fact, Deepika's portrayal of Veronica in Cocktail was widely praised and is considered a turning point in her career.
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Years later, Shahid, Rashmika, and Kriti took the initiative to advance the franchise. But Cocktail 2 hasn't really succeeded in continuing the legacy of the first movie.