Hrithik Roshan debuted 25 years ago with Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai, captivating audiences with his dual roles, flawless dance moves, and adorable chemistry with Ameesha Patel. Interestingly, Kareena Kapoor Khan was the original choice for the lead, but Ameesha eventually took the role.
For years, it was believed that Kareena left Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai due to a misunderstanding between her mother, Babita Kapoor, and Rakesh Roshan. However, Ameesha later revealed in an interview with Bollywood Bubble that Kareena was asked to leave the film because of differences. Rakesh Roshan reportedly cited Babita's interference as the issue and replaced Kareena with Ameesha within three days.
In an interview with India Today Digital, Rakesh Roshan discussed casting Ameesha Patel, who had no film background. He shared that he wasn’t nervous about it, as the story called for fresh faces for both lead roles. Having worked with Hrithik on previous projects, Rakesh was confident in his abilities, knowing his potential and understanding of the director's expectations.
He also mentioned that Ameesha Patel was cast just three days before shooting began. Despite being new to the film industry, she delivered an impressive performance. Both Hrithik and Ameesha showed such confidence in their roles that they didn't appear like newcomers, but rather like seasoned actors.
Hrithik and Ameesha made a strong Bollywood debut with Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai, while Kareena started her career with Refugee alongside Abhishek Bachchan.
Though they didn’t debut together, Hrithik and Kareena later starred together in
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham
, where their chemistry left audiences wanting more.