Not Kajol, Aishwarya Rai was Karan Johar’s FIRST choice for Anjali’s role in ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’.

Karan Johar’s ‘Sometimes there is happiness and sometimes there is sorrow.‘ has garnered a massive following over the years, solidifying its status as a cult classic. Kajol’s portrayal of Anjali struck a chord with audiences, making her a beloved character. However, here’s a fun fact: Karan originally envisioned Aishwarya Rai Bachchan for the iconic role!
In an old interview with Komal Nahta, Karan revealed that he originally wanted to cast Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as Anjali in K3G.He explained that at the time, he thought Kajol might not be available, as she was focusing on her personal life and planning to start a family.

Johar once shared that while casting for the film he initially thought Kajol might not be able to take on the role due to her recent marriage and plans to start a family. Considering this, he contemplated approaching Aishwarya Rai Bachchan instead. However, when he visited Kajol at her studio, he was prepared for her to decline, though he felt disappointed since they had already worked together before.

Contrary to KJo’s expectations, Kajol happily accepted the role in K3G, and he didn’t end up approaching Aishwarya. Karan later admitted that Aishwarya was indeed his initial choice for the role, but after Kajol’s agreement, the idea of casting Aish was dropped, leading to a “series of ‘missing’” her from the film.
In an interview with DNA, Aishwarya revealed that Karan had approached her with the script for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, but the character underwent changes later. She observed that the narration she received differed from what eventually appeared on screen. Praising Kajol as “fabulous,” Aishwarya reflected on how their collaboration with Karan didn’t materialize at that time.