Ameesha Patel opens up on replacing Aishwarya Rai in 'Mangal Pandey': 'Aamir found me intelligent'

Actor Ameesha Patel recently revisited how she came on board for 'Mangal Pandey: The Rising', sharing that her equation with Aamir Khan—and a twist of fate during Lagaan, played a key role in shaping that opportunity.In a candid chat, Ameesha revealed that Aamir first noticed her through an interview where her communication skills left an impression on him. She ssaid during a chat with Bollywood Bubble, "Aamir saw an interview of mine and found me intelligent and one interview, we did together and they were taking time to set-up the camera. So, Aamir and me started playing knots and crosses. We got along very well. "She also shared that her association with Aamir dates back to her near casting in Lagaan. “I had screen-tested for Lagaan, was selected, and had even allotted dates," she recalled. However, things took an unexpected turn while she was filming Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai in New Zealand, when she received a call informing her of a change in plans.Director Ashutosh Gowariker reportedly felt she didn’t quite fit the rustic brief of the character. “He felt my eyes looked too educated, and I am also extremely fair-skinned," she said.Interestingly, what worked against her in Lagaan soon became an advantage elsewhere. Ameesha noted that her polished persona helped her bag Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, where she portrayed Sakeena, a character defined by her awareness and sophistication.Reflecting on that phase, she pointed out how close she came to being part of two major releases that eventually clashed at the box office. “Imagine, Lagaan and Gadar released together… I would have been in both," she said.Before Ameesha was finalised for Mangal Pandey: The Rising, the role of Jwala had initially been offered to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Her exit from the project had generated considerable buzz at the time.Addressing the situation in an earlier interview, Aishwarya clarified that the issue stemmed from a disagreement between the producer and her team. She added that the producer later apologised for how the matter was publicly handled. However, reports back then cited producer Bobby Bedi claiming that the exit was linked to a fee renegotiation, alleging that the actor sought to revise her remuneration after signing the contract.