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Did you know why Manisha Koirala rejected SRK starrer Dil Toh Pagal Hai? Here's why, Heeramandi Mandi actress reveals herself
Manisha Koirala is one of the most celebrated actresses of the Bollywood industry who has served some of the most powerful films in her long-running career, especially during the old and mid-Bollywood eras. The actress was last seen on the screens almost a decade back through the horror comedy Bhoot Returns. Now after years of gap from the Bollywood realm, she is all set to make her solid comeback on the screens through Sanjay Leela Bhansali's one of the most awaited film of the year, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar.
Heeramandi is a brand new upcoming period drama television series created by none other than the director known for , Sanjay Leela Bhansali. With a long list of female leads, Manisha Koirala is one of the many actresses who will be leading the film's forefront in a crucial character. Speaking of her role, the evergreen actress will be seen portraying the role of Mallikajaan. Recently during the show's promotion, the riveting actress was heard speaking of her career and remarked on that 'one-regret'.
During a recently held conversation with a renowned media forum, Manisha Koirala took everyone back to the year 1997 when Dil Toh Pagal Hai was released. Starring Shah Rukh Khan, she has rejected the iconic Yash Chopra film because she was pitted against Madhuri Dixit, she revealed. Speaking of the film, it was Karisma Kapoor's role in the film, Nisha for whom, Manisha was approached but she backed off, which she regrets even now. Meanwhile, apart from Koirala, Nisha's role was offered to many other renowned actresses like Urmila Matondkar, Kajol, Raveena Tandon and Juhi Chawla but later it was Karisma Kapoor who got the chance to opt for the iconic role.
Coming to her statement, the Heeramandi actress said, "One of the regrets that I have in my career is that I didn't do Yash Chopra's film. I was pitted against Madhuri ji, and I got scared. I backed out of that project." She even recalled an instance from the then film as it was her dream to work with Yash Chopra but couldn't hold it because of the feeling of inferiority. "I went to Yash Ji's office and told him, 'Sir, it is my dream to be your heroine, solo. You are pitting me against Madhuri ji'. Somehow better judgment of mine, I think I missed out," she said.
Led by all women, Heeramandi is set in the pre-independent India and will revolve around the life of the courtesans when they were treated as equal to queens. As promised by the maker, the intense historical drama will take the audiences around the themes of 'love, power and freedom'. Speaking in more depth, in the midst of a power struggle, a young heir's choice dwindles the status quo of the era as she follows the route of love over succession. In the burgeoning freedom movement, the life of the courtesans are put under threat as they all battle to maintain what they possess. Meanwhile, the intense drama series will star Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, and Sharmin Segal. It is all set to make it's premiere on OTT giant, Netflix on 1st May 2024.
- PTC PUNJABI
