Ameesha Patel reveals real reason behind Kareena Kapoor's exit from Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai

Ameesha Patel made her Bollywood debut with Rakesh Roshan's directorial Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai (2000). However, the film was initially offered to Kareena Kapoor, who made her debut with Refugee, which was released in the same year. In a new interview, Ameesha talked about the reason behind Kareena’s exit from the film. 

3 things you need to know 

• Ameesha Patel is currently basking in the success of Gadar 2, which has earned close to Rs 500 crore at the box office. 
• The actress reprised her role as Sakina in the movie. 
• The film also stars Sunny Deol, Utkarsh Sharma and Simratt Kaur. 

Ameesha Patel’s shocking revelation about Kareena Kapoor 

In an interview with Bollywood Bubble, Ameesha Patel was asked about how Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai fell into her lap after Kareena Kapoor walked out of the film. Replying to this, the Gadar 2 actress revealed that it was not Kareena who opted out but director Rakesh Roshan who asked her to leave the film. Reportedly, Kareena's exit happened just three days before the film was supposed to begin filming. 

She recalled, “Actually, she (Kareena) didn’t back out. From what Rakesh ji told me, he asked her to leave the film because they were having differences.” 

Ameesha also added that Kareena’s exit worried Pinkie Roshan because “the set was ready, and a replacement for Sonia had to be found in three days, and crores of rupees (had been spent) on that set.” She recollected that since it was Hrithik Roshan’s debut film, everyone was worried about it. Ameesha then revealed that Rakesh Roshan saw her at a wedding and announced that he had found his Sonia and hoped she would say yes. 
 

Industry heavyweights had no hopes for Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai 

(A still from Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai | Image: Youtube Screengrab)

In an interview with Pinkvilla, Ameesha recalled how the film industry advised Rakesh Roshan against releasing Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai. She recalled, “But everyone was against the launch because everyone had no faith in Hrithik (Roshan) because, at the same time, Mr Amitabh Bachchan's son Abhishek Bachchan was being launched, I was a non-filmy, he was being launched with Kareena so this was a very underdog project till of course Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai actually came to the screens."