Aishwarya Rai Was Dharmesh Darshan’s First Choice For Mela And Raja Hindustani: 'My Heart Was On Her'

As Mela recently marked its 25th anniversary, director Dharmesh Darshan revealed that Twinkle wasn’t the first choice for the film. He originally envisioned Aishwarya Rai in the role.

Mela was one of the last films Twinkle Khanna starred in before stepping away from Bollywood. Paired opposite Aamir Khan, the film also featured Faisal Khan in a significant role. As Mela recently marked its 25th anniversary, director Dharmesh Darshan revealed that Twinkle wasn’t the first choice for the film. He originally envisioned Aishwarya Rai in the role.

Aishwarya Rai was first choice for Aamir Khan's Mela

When asked about Aishwarya being the first choice for Mela, the director confirmed, “She was. She was also my first choice for the role of Memsaab in Raja Hindustani (1996). My heart was on her. But she urgently had to go for Miss World. I didn’t want to take any chances as I wanted an actress who could devote her full time to the film and Bollywood. It was her sheer grace that she didn’t hold it in her heart."

Dharmesh Darshan also addressed Aishwarya’s cameo in the film, praising her for taking on a small role despite her superstar status. He remarked, “A heroine of her level had worked with Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan; you name it. Yet, she agreed and drove a couple of hours to shoot that scene." He added, “I’ve met ladies who have told me, ‘Kya sir; aapne Aishwarya ko cameo diya aur Twinkle Khanna ko itna bada role de diya!’”

Released on January 7, 2000, Mela was directed by Dharmesh Darshan, who had previously helmed the hit Raja Hindustani. However, Mela failed to resonate with audiences due to its uneven blend of action, romance, and drama, resulting in a major box office disappointment.

About Twinkle Khanna's acting journey

Following Mela, Twinkle Khanna, who made her acting debut in 1995, left the film industry, partially due to the film’s poor reception. She once revealed on Koffee With Karan that she had joked with Akshay Kumar about marrying him only if the movie flopped. Twinkle has since found immense success as an author and often humorously reflects on her acting career, describing it as filled with forgettable roles.