Big Comment/ Raja Hindustani director reveals why Kajol turned down Aamir Khan starrer Mela: She was not sure...

Director Dharmesh Darshan who was a prominent industry figure in the 90s and 2000s with films like Raja Hindustani, Dhadkan and Mela, has opened up about stories from making experiences of some of his films. In one of those anecdotes, the director revealed that Kajol was the first choice to play the lead role in his 2000 film Mela, a role that was eventually essayed by Twinkle Khanna.

(Mela poster | Image: X/Aamir fanpage)

Aamir was too focused on resurrecting brother's career, says Mela director

In an exclusive interview with Lehren Retro, Darshan spoke about why Kajol backed out of the project, which also starred Aamir Khan. Darshan stated, “There was some discomfort from her side. She was not sure about Aamir at that point. She’s a one-take actor, and he takes (many) takes. So, she had those reservations.”

However, Darshan also acknowledged that Kajol was very gracious in backing out of the project, as the actress went to his house and explained her side to the director. “Kajol was not known to do these things,” Dharmesh Darshan added. 

(Mela poster | Image: IMDB)

Among other subjects, Darshan also opened up on Aamir’s lack of focus while shooting for the film. The Raja Hindustani filmmaker said, “I first said no to him, but Aamir had to correct Faisal’s career.” Darshan added, “Aamit didn’t submit so much in Mela. His mind started working more, because he was concerned about Faisal.”

First time I wept on Mela sets, recalls Dharmesh Darshan

Darshan also recalled the one time he wept on the sets, after being insisted to incorporate by Aamir Khan a ‘urine therapy’ scene. Darshan elaborated, “For the first time, I wept on sets.. I said who will believe this scene is from an Aamir Khan film.” The Lagaan actor, however, asked him not to be pretentious, and Darshan grudgingly went along with shooting the scene. The filmmaker added that the scene was ‘vulgar’, but he did it with a heavy heart only because he’d committed to the job.

Mela, which released in January 2000, was panned by critics across the board and turned out to be a disaster at box-office. While their first collaboration Raja Hindustani remains the biggest hit of Dharmesh Darshan’s career, Dharmesh Darshan and Aamir Khan never worked together again after Mela’s failure.

Aamir Khan and Karisma Kapoor in Raja Hindustani poster | Image: IMDB)

In next few years, Dharmesh Darshan went on to make films like Dhadkan, Haan Maine bhi Pyaar Kiya, Bewafaa and Aap ki Khatir. Mela was also one of Twinkle Khanna’s last few releases before she got married to Akshay Kumar and decided to quit acting altogether.