The Subhash Ghai directorial Taal was released in the year 1999 and continues to hold a special place in the hearts of cinema lovers. Aside from its compelling love story, the movie remains widely celebrated for its melodious music and Aishwarya Rai and her remarkable dance moves. Aishwarya Rai played the character of Mansi in the film, a performance that won tremendous appreciation from audiences. Now, Subhash Ghai has revealed that he initially turned down Aishwarya Rai for the iconic role.
During an interview, Subhash Ghai shared that choreographer Saroj Khan had originally suggested Aishwarya Rai for the part. However, because Aishwarya had won the Miss World crown in 1994, the director held the impression that she belonged strictly to the cosmetic and glamorous world. He felt she would not look convincing in the role of an innocent and simple-minded hill girl from a small town.
Recalling the moment when Saroj Khan was asked to name an alternative to Madhuri Dixit who could handle complex dance routines on screen, the director expressed his surprise when Saroj Khan named Aishwarya. He admitted telling her that the actor hailed from the world of cosmetics and glamour, raising doubts about her suitability for the rustic character.
Subhash Ghai's perception did not shift until he watched renowned filmmaker Mani Ratnam's Tamil film Iruvar. The director explained that he had only seen a couple of Aishwarya's earlier projects, which led him to believe her talents were confined to modeling. Upon a friend's recommendation, Mani Ratnam arranged a special private screening of Iruvar specifically for him.
Watching that film instantly convinced the director that he had found his Mansi. Following that realization, he laid down a clear condition to Aishwarya that the initial portions of the movie would feature her without any makeup, which would gradually progress into a glamorous diva look as the narrative advanced. Subhash Ghai praised the tremendous dedication and hard work Aishwarya brought to the project for Taal.
For context, Taal was written, directed, and produced by Subhash Ghai, who also co-wrote the script upon its 1999 release. The film starred Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai, and Akshaye Khanna in leading roles, alongside supporting performances by Amrish Puri and Alok Nath. The project turned out to be a major commercial success, particularly remembered for its timeless soundtrack.
