Rewind to the era when Sanjay Leela Bhansali was a budding filmmaker, eyeing his directorial debut with ‘Khamoshi: The Musical.’ Kajol was his initial choice for the pivotal role of deaf and mute Anna. According to a report by Koimoi, getting through to a star of Kajol’s stature was no small feat for the aspiring director. Bhansali managed to secure an appointment to narrate his script, thanks to Kajol’s talented mother, Tanuja. However, the meeting wasn’t slated for Mumbai; Kajol was busy shooting in the remote locales of Gujarat.
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Bhansali embarked on a journey involving a plane, a train, and a car to reach the designated hotel where Kajol was staying. The anticipation for the narration was palpable as he entered the hotel lobby at the appointed time. Little did Bhansali know that he was about to witness Kajol’s whimsical charm. Instructed to wait for “some time,” the director lingered in the lobby for not just a few minutes or an hour, but eight hours.
Finally, Sanjay Leela Bhansali decided to call the star herself. To his surprise, Kajol casually mentioned that she had forgotten about their scheduled meeting.
As fate would have it, the role for which Kajol was the first choice, was then offered to the dancing diva Madhuri Dixit, who hesitated for months and eventually opted out, citing a lack of confidence. The role finally passed to Manisha Koirala, who delivered a stellar performance in ‘Khamoshi: The Musical.’
