- Manisha Koirala, Khamoshi: The Musical, India, 1996. No to the (critically applauded flop) debut of Mumbai auteur Sanjay Leela Bhansali. He said he made it the way Kareena’s grandfather Raj Kapoor would have made it – “over the top.”
- Aishwsarya Rai, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, India, 1999. Bebo was “not into acting,” she told Bollywood director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, when urging her into the family business. She chose Refugee as her debut in 2000.
- Twinkle Khanna, Baadshah, India, 1999. Twinkle may not often admit it, but Seema was first offered to Kareena… opposite the mighty Shahrukh Khan.
- Ameesha Patel, Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, India, 2000. Kareena started shooting – and suddenly quit. And Ameesha and co-star Hrithik Roshan became overnight stars.
- Aishwsarya Rai, Devdas, India, 2002. Kareena insisted that director Sanjay Leela Bhansali reneged on his promise that she would play Paro. What did she expect – she’d refused two of his earlier films, saying he couldn’t direct! Naturally, he laughed this off and said Ash had the more aristocratic look, Owch! She also won her third Filmfare Best Actress Award in the sixth version of Saratchandra Chatterjee’s beloved novel..
- Preity Zinta, Kal Ho Naa Ho, India, 2003. Karan Johar wrote the film for Kareena, a fourth generation actor of the Punjabi Kapoor dynasty. They were friends but that didn’t prevent her asking too much money. Enter: pretty Preity.
- Rani Mukerji, Chori Chori, India, 2003. Kareena suddenly quit being teamed with Ajay Devgan – ex-lover of her elder sister. Co-stars called “Bebo” Kapoor selfish on- camera. “I can’t help it. It’s what got me where I am.”
- Aishwsarya Rai, Raincoat, India, 2004. Ash was delayed on her first English-language film: Bollywood Meets Jane Austen in Bride and Prejudice. Then, Kareena was delayed and Ash became Neeru again.
- Aishwarya Rai, Umrao Jaan, India, 2006. Director JP Dutta was rejected by his initial choice, Priyanka Chopra. And then by Kareena… they didn’t hit it off in their meeting.
- Kajol, My Name Is Khan, India, 2009. Kareened out of the lead. Of course she was. Because director Karan Johar’s favourite Bollywood actress remained Mrs Ajay Devgan – aka Kajol.
- Ileana D’Cruz, Baadshaho, India, 2017. What does a director Milan Luthria do when Aishwarya RaiBachchan refuses to play Maharani Gayatri Devi? He simply gives the Rajathaniqueen a new name – Gitanjali – and and offers her to Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Shruti Hassan, Katrina Kaif. D’Cruz and her bodyguard, Ajay Devgan sizzled, just not enough to save the movie.
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 11