Did you know Ranbir Kapoor was not the first choice for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya?

Ranbir Kapoor made his debut with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's directorial Saawariya (2007) alongside Sonam Kapoor. However, not many know that Kapoor was not the first choice of the director. As the film completes 16 years, let's delve into the fact that is not known to many.

Who was the first choice of Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Saawariya?

It was actor Prateik Babbar whom Sanjay Leela Bhansali was considering for Ranbir Raj Malhotra instead of Ranbir Kapoor. Babbar, in an old interview with Mashable India, revealed that the director approached him for the film when he was barely 18. However, he was in rehab at that time, so couldn't make it.

“Actually I have a funny story. Mr Sanjay Leela Bhansali was calling my house when I was 18 years old, when I was in rehab, for Saawariya. I was too young, I was in rehab so it couldn't have worked out. But my grandparents told me a few years later,” the actor said in an old interview.

More about Saawariya

The film which was based on Fyodor Dostoevsky's 1848 short story White Nights also marked the debut of Sonam Kapoor. The film opened to mixed reviews and reportedly turned out to be a commercial disaster. The film also starred Rani Mukerji in the key role.

Prateik Babbar's debut film

Smita Patil and Raj Babbar's son Prateik made his debut in 2008 with Imran Khan and Genelia D'Souza starrer Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na. In the film, he played the role of Genelia's brother Amit Mahant. Since then, he has starred in Dhobi Ghaat, Dum Maaro Dum, Issaq, Baaghi 2 and Mumbai Saga, among others. The actor was last seen in Cobalt Blue (2022). Next, he will be seen in Imaginary Rain, co-starring Shabana Azmi.