Exclusive: Did You Know Kajol’s Karan Arjun Casting Was Suggested By Shah Rukh Khan?

Karan Arjun will re-release in cinemas on November 22

Karan Arjun, one of the biggest hits of the 1990s, is all set to return to cinema screens. Directed by Rakesh Roshan, the iconic film featured Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Kajol, Mamta Kulkarni and Rakhee in key roles. But do you know how Kajol landed her role in this cult classic? Rakesh Roshan shared the story during a candid chat with NDTV. The filmmaker revealed, “Kajol was Shah Rukh’s suggestion. I asked Shah Rukh, ‘You are working with her in Baazigar. How is she?’ And he said, ‘She is very very good.’ So then, I went to Kajol and I signed her.” It goes without saying that Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol make one of the most iconic on-screen pairs in Bollywood. In addition to Baazigar and Karan Arjun, the duo have shared screen space in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Dilwale, My Name Is Khan, to name a few.

During the interview, Rakesh Roshan was also asked about his son, actor Hrithik Roshan, who worked as an assistant director for Karan Arjun. The director revealed that Hrithik Roshan didn’t receive any special treatment on set and would travel by bus to reach the shooting location. Rakesh Roshan shared, “He (Hrithik Roshan) wanted to join films. I said if you wanted to join films, then you become an assistant director. He had two choices – he had to go abroad for further studies or to be here. So, he chose to be here. He chose to be my assistant. He thought it would be a very rosy walk with me, but it was not. We used to have breakfast at the same table before going to shoot. I used to take my car, he had to come on the bus. After pack-up, he used to come by the bus, not with me. He never travelled with me on a flight for outdoor shooting. He travelled with the unit, staying with the unit with four people staying together. This is how I came into the industry. So, I thought he should know all these things.”

After Karan Arjun, Hrithik Roshan assisted his father on several projects, including Khudgarz, King Uncle, Koyla and Khel. When asked if Hrithik ever expressed dissatisfaction about not receiving special treatment, Rakesh Roshan shared, “He once only complained, not complained, rather requested, when we were shooting in Nairobi for Khel.” The director recalled his son saying, “‘Papa, can I have a bath in your room? Dirty water is coming in our bathroom.” Rakesh Roshan also revealed that he allowed Hrithik to use his room to take a shower during the shoot.

Circling back to Karan Arjun’s re-release, the film will be hitting the cinema screens on November 22. Amrish Puri, Ila Arun and Deepshikha Nagpal are also part of the project.