Back in 2003, the film ‘Andaaz’ made waves by introducing Lara Dutta and Priyanka Chopra to Bollywood audiences. However, in an interview, director Suneel Darshan disclosed that these two actresses were not originally intended to star in the movie.Initial Casting PlansTalking to Inda Today, Suneel revealed that when planning ‘Andaaz’, he initially intended to cast established actresses like Karisma Kapoor or Kareena Kapoor alongside Akshay Kumar. At that time, Akshay was involved in every aspect of the project, and it was almost certain that one of the Kapoor sisters would play a lead role. Additionally, another prominent female star had shown interest in joining the film, though Suneel chose not to disclose her name.Need for Freshness and Better ChemistryHe mentioned that he felt the initial casting lacked freshness and thus, he decided that something needed to be changed. There were some disagreements on certain issues with one of the actresses, and he also believed that the pair did not complement each other well on screen. Consequently, he sought two actresses who would better complement each other in the film.First Meeting with Priyanka ChopraRecalling his first meeting with Priyanka Chopra, Suneel explained that the second lead needed to be someone who could match Lara Dutta. Unexpectedly, destiny intervened when he received a call while sitting in his chamber. An actor’s secretary had come with a girl to introduce him. Following his usual approach of meeting newcomers, he agreed to meet Priyanka, who was the reigning queen of a global beauty pageant at the time. Initially, he was not impressed, but as she groomed and evolved herself, his opinion changed. About fifteen minutes into their conversation, he noticed her remarkable eyes and felt her voice reminded him of the legendary actress Rekha.Confidence in Priyanka’s Star PotentialThe filmmaker mentioned that on that day, he was convinced Priyanka Chopra was like Rekha returning, someone he had known before. However, no one else involved in the film shared his belief or had faith in her potential. Most were more supportive of Lara Dutta and her personality. Priyanka, he said, was a different case altogether, but he was very confident that she would become a top star.On-Set Atmosphere and Akshay Kumar’s CourtesySuneel said that Akshay was always polite and respectful towards his co-stars. He also noted that the working environment on set was lively and enjoyable, especially since the three actors often chatted with each other in Punjabi, adding a fun and friendly vibe to the shoot.
