Aishwarya Rai, often celebrated as one of Bollywood's most enchanting and talented actresses, has mesmerized audiences with her powerful performances and striking beauty. However, many may not be aware that she was originally set to make her Bollywood debut in a film alongside Suniel Shetty, a project that ultimately never reached fruition. This article explores the fascinating details surrounding Aishwarya’s early career and the intriguing circumstances that led to the shelving of her first Bollywood film.
Aishwarya’s cinematic journey began with her remarkable victory in the Miss World pageant in 1994, which served as a gateway into the world of film. She made her acting debut in 1997 with the Tamil film Iruvar, a political drama inspired by the lives of eminent figures such as M.G. Ramachandran, M. Karunanidhi, and J. Jayalalithaa. This film boasted an impressive ensemble cast, featuring renowned actors like Mohanlal, Prakash Raj, Revathi, Gautami, Tabu, and Nasar.
After her successful foray into Tamil cinema, Aishwarya starred alongside Bobby Deol in Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya in 1997, marking her official entry into Bollywood. Interestingly, her first project was initially intended to be titled Hum Bachche Hain Ek Daal Ke, co-starring Suniel Shetty. Filmmaker Rahul Dholakia recently shared this intriguing piece of history in an interview, shedding light on the circumstances that led to this film being left unreleased.
In a conversation with casting director Mukesh Chhabra on Mashable India’s series The Bombay Dream, Dholakia revealed, “I was responsible for the production of a film titled Hum Panchhi Hain Ek Daal Ke, which marked Aishwarya Rai's first collaboration with Suniel Shetty, but it was never released. Directed by Shashilal Nair and produced by Rahul Gupta, I learned a valuable lesson about what a director should avoid. The events surrounding the production were quite absurd.”
Dholakia elaborated further, recounting how the ambitious nature of the project led to its downfall. “They sought the best unit and crew,” he explained, “so I suggested the action director from Independence Day. However, the director's ego was excessive, and such an attitude doesn’t translate well in America. He insisted on filming an action sequence at the Grand Canyon and requested rocks the size of a room—1,000 of them, to be exact. When questioned about how many takes would be necessary for the scene, he became upset. The director's antics ultimately led to Hum Panchhi Hain Ek Daal Ke being shelved.”
Despite the unfortunate fate of Hum Bachche Hain Ek Daal Ke, Aishwarya made her Bollywood debut with Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya. Although this film was a commercial disappointment, it did not deter her ascent to stardom. Over the years, Aishwarya Rai has solidified her position as a leading figure in Indian cinema, earning acclaim for her diverse roles and captivating performances. Her recent films, Ponniyin Selvan I and II, have emerged as the highest-grossing films of her career, collectively amassing an impressive ₹830 crores at the global box office.
