Kanika Dhillon Shares 'Manmarziyaan' Was Originally Shot with a Different Cast

Not many know that Anurag Kashyap's 'Manmarziyaan' was initially filmed with a different cast before being reshot with Abhishek Bachchan, Vicky Kaushal, and Taapsee Pannu.

Not many know that Anurag Kashyap's 'Manmarziyaan' was initially filmed with a different cast before being reshot with Abhishek Bachchan, Vicky Kaushal, and Taapsee Pannu.

Source : IMDb

Not many know that Anurag Kashyap's 'Manmarziyaan' was initially filmed with a different cast before being reshot with Abhishek Bachchan, Vicky Kaushal, and Taapsee Pannu. The 2018 romantic drama may not have been a box office success, but it was well-received by critics.

In a recent interview with SCREEN, writer-producer Kanika Dhillon opened up about the challenges behind making the film, including actors leaving midway, which resulted in a complete makeover of the project.

Kanika Dhillon on the Challenges of Writing Manmarziyaan

Kanika Dhillon revealed that she wrote the film four years before it actually got made and that getting it on board was a long battle.

"To find a voice in the industry is the first big step you have to take as a writer. I was working on Manmarziyaan when I wasn’t that strong. It took me 4-5 years to get the film greenlit, write it, rewrite it, groom it, and find people to make it. It was my biggest challenge so far," she shared.

The writer added that keeping the story relevant over the years was also tricky. “Love stories can get redundant, and you have to keep updating your characters. While waiting for someone to hear and make the story, I kept working on it. Manmarziyaan remains the most challenging film for me.”

Why the Film Had to Be Reshot

Dhillon also revealed that Manmarziyaan had to be reshot with a new cast after the original actors left.

"The film started, then stopped midway, and was restarted with a different set of actors. A lot of people were hesitant to play these roles because they felt the audience wouldn’t accept them," she explained.

She further elaborated that certain character dynamics made actors reluctant to take on the roles.

"It seemed very risky to them to have the husband supporting Rumi and the boyfriend being commitment-phobic. While casting, I encountered a lot of insecurities from actors. Eventually, the ones who played these roles were the best for them. It was more like destiny choosing them."

About Kanika Dhillon

Kanika Dhillon is a screenwriter, producer, and author. She made her literary debut with the bestselling novel Bombay Duck is a Fish (2011), which was launched by Shah Rukh Khan. Over the years, she has written several acclaimed films, including:

Manmarziyaan (2018)

Kedarnath (2018)

Guilty (2020)

Haseen Dillruba (2021)

Rashmi Rocket (2021)

Raksha Bandhan (2022)

Kanika continues to be a prominent name in Bollywood, shaping narratives that break stereotypes and challenge conventional storytelling.