It was in 2012 that filmmaker Karan Johar launched three new careers with Student Of The Year. Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra got a dreamy debut in Karan’s directorial. The actors then went on to work together in different films as duos. But did you know that if it was up to Varun and Sid, the leading lady of the film might have been someone else?
Varun Dhawan and Sidharth Malhotra didn’t want Alia Bhatt in SOTY
11 years after their debut appearance on Koffee With Karan, Varun and Sidharth reunited for season 8. In the latest episode the two actors came together on the couch, but without Alia this time. However, the actress made up for it by sending a sweet message for her debut co-stars. It was after the message that an interesting revelation was made about the film.
Karan revealed during the episode that Sid and Varun didn’t initially want Alia to be cast in the film. He shared, “I still remember the first time she walked in, how both of you sent me messages saying you can’t cast her.” While both Varun and Sid denied sending the messages, Karan added that one of them even said “She’s too young.”
The photoshoot that changed things…
However, it was their first photoshoot together that changed the boys’ perspective. Karan informed, “When we shot with her 3 months post that, for a photoshoot, I remember she stood quiet, didn’t look at either of you. Either she was conscious or shy, because you already knew me. She didn’t know me at all. She shot, we did the photoshoot and I knew after the first shot (that she was the right choice).”
Varun agreed with Karan, however, the filmmaker revealed that the actor kept sending him images of other girls to be cast in Alia’s role. To which, Sidharth added, “That was what was wonderful. She was the underdog within the udnerdogs here already. And then she emerged and how.”
It was because of that film that today we have 3 highly successful careers in Bollywood. While Sid and Varun are two of the most sought-after leading men, Alia is arguably the biggest actress we have today. Thankfully, it all happened for the best and we have such amazing talents today.
