Laapataa Ladies: DYK Aamir Khan auditioned to play cop, but role went to Ravi Kishan?
Aamir Khan was so committed to playing the role of a police officer in Laapataa Ladies that he even auditioned for it. However, the character was ultimately portrayed on the silver screen by Ravi Kishan.
New Delhi: Undoubtedly, Laapataa Ladies was one of the most talked-about films of 2023. The comedy drama was highly lauded by cinema lovers of all age groups for its heartwarming storyline and compelling performances by the actors. Some even said that the casting of the movie was done to perfection. Among the entire star cast, the one who received immense appreciation from all was Ravi Kishan.
The 55-year-old actor-politician portrayed the character of Sub-Inspector Shyam Manohar in the flick. But did you know a Bollywood superstar was also interested in playing this role and even auditioned for it? No, we are not kidding! It was none other than Mr Perfectionist, Aamir Khan.
In an interview with ANI, dated 2024, director Kiran Rao made the shocking revelation. The 51-year-old filmmaker said, "Aamir liked this character a lot when it was written. He was the one who wanted to play the role. And, he gave a brilliant audition as well, which made us think a lot and consider him for the same due to his prowess. But I felt, with Aamir being a star, an expectation would build around the character. People would assume that he is set to do something, be it good or bad, and that he can't actually be the villain. Aamir was bringing the baggage of a star."
Kiran added that she was confident that they would go ahead with a person who fits into the role so much that one wouldn't get to know his next move. "Ravi is fabulous. I felt nobody could be as good a Manohar as Ravi. He has a realism. Aamir acted well, but the role was meant to be for Ravi," she stated. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Ultimately, Ravi brought life into the character of Sub-Inspector Shyam Manohar on the silver screen, and his acting became a highlight of Laapataa Ladies. He was even honoured with the award for Best Supporting Actor at the 25th International Indian Film Academy Awards, which was held earlier this year.
On the other hand, Aamir's audition tape for Laapataa Ladies has garnered lakhs of views on YouTube. "With Aamir, we would've predicted he would save the day at the end. But Ravi brought this ambiguity to the character that no one knows on whose side this character will lean," wrote a netizen. Another commented, "No other Indian film star, minor or major, would release a failed audition tape. They would all drown in their own ego. This is why I love Aamir Khan. It's not about what his films do at the BO, it's his passion for cinema and storytelling that makes him stand out."
Laapataa Ladies star cast
Alongside Ravi, Laapataa Ladies also starred Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava and Chhaya Kadam in key roles. The film was chosen as India's official entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards. Sadly, it failed to bag a nomination at the prestigious event.
Laapataa Ladies is rated 8.4 out of 10 on IMDb (Internet Movie Database), with insights from almost half a lakh users of the platform. It brings to the silver screen an interesting tale of two newlywed couples whose wives get exchanged amidst a train journey.
Curated by Raghav Jaitly!