Karan Johar returned to the big screen as a director with Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, the film got a lot of love from audience and critics. Before this, Karan had directed Ae Dil Hai Mushkil with Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the lead with Shah Rukh Khan making a cameo appearance as Tahir Taliyar Khan. SRK plays Aishwarya’s ex-husband in the film.
But not many are aware that Shah Rukh Khan was not the original choice for Tahir’s character, SRK simply stepped in as the actor whom Karan had originally intended to cast backed out. And that actor was Saif Ali Khan. Karan wanted Saif to play the role of Tahir, as he felt that Saif’s persona suited the role that he had written and Saif had even agreed to be part of the project. But Saif had to back out as he had met with an injury and had to undergo a treatment thus couldn’t work out his dates and at that last minute, Karan could only think of none other than his brother Shah Rukh Khan. And given their old association SRK agreed to be part of the project.
This would be Karan Johar’s third film with Shah Rukh Khan as a director, together they have delivered massive hits like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Ghum.