Subhash Ghai Rejected Aishwarya Rai For Taal, Iruvar Changed His Mind
The filmmaker recalled how Mani Ratnam’s Iruvar convinced him that Aishwarya Rai had the acting ability needed for Taal
Filmmaker Subhash Ghai has revealed that he initially rejected Aishwarya Rai for his 1999 musical Taal, believing she was more suited to the glamour and modelling world than to the demanding role he had in mind.
In a recent interview, Ghai recalled that choreographer Saroj Khan recommended Aishwarya when he was searching for an actress capable of performing the film’s challenging dance sequences. Khan suggested Aishwarya when Ghai asked who could take on the role apart from Madhuri Dixit.
However, Ghai said he was initially unconvinced. Aishwarya had won the Miss World title in 1994 and was widely recognised for her beauty and modelling career. He recalled thinking that she “belongs to the cosmetic world” and did not immediately see her as the right choice for his film.
His opinion changed after he watched Mani Ratnam’s Iruvar, which marked Aishwarya’s acting debut. Ghai said someone encouraged him to watch the Tamil film, and the performance convinced him that she had the acting ability required for Taal.
“When I saw the Tamil movie Iruvar, I knew that she was the girl,” Ghai recalled.
Aishwarya was subsequently cast as Mansi, a young woman whose journey forms the emotional centre of Taal. Ghai also wanted to move away from her glamorous public image and present her differently in the film.
He recalled telling Aishwarya that she would appear without makeup during the opening portions, with her character gradually adopting a more glamorous look as the story developed.
Taal, starring Aishwarya alongside Anil Kapoor and Akshaye Khanna, was released in 1999. With music by AR Rahman, the film became a major success and is remembered for its songs, dance sequences and Aishwarya’s performance.