Jee Le Zaraa: Farhan Akhtar Definitely Pulled Off A Casting Coup With This One; But There Are Other Films Too Wherein A Similar Marvel Happened
With Farhan Akhtar bringing together Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt for his next directorial Jee Le Zaraa, let’s take a look at some of the biggest casting coups that have happened in Bollywood in the last two decades or so.
For anyone even remotely related to the film industry, this is like a golden rule - getting the casting right for any film is half the battle won already. And when it comes to Bollywood, even if the casting isn’t right, you still have a shot at success if the casting is big. Even if the film suffers with a weak story, the big names can assure you of at least a big opening.
In the last two decades, there have been several films made with big names, some of which have created curiosity and survived just on the basis of the names of the stars attached to it. But there have been a lot that have justified the presence of each of those big names in the story.
With Farhan Akhtar bringing together three of the biggest leading actresses of Bollywood together -- Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt -- in his recently announced directorial, Jee Le Zaraa, and inarguably pulling off one of the biggest casting coups of the Hindi film industry, let’s take a look at some of the films that brought together the biggest names of the industry.
Mohabbatein
Karan Johar wanted to be the first person to bring the two superstars of Hindi cinema - Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan - together for the first time on screen, but it was Aditya Chopra who had this privilege. In his 2000 directorial, Aditya started the millennium by giving a break to six newcomers in the presence of the two biggest superstars this country has ever seen, and the success of the film was a testament to that.
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham
Even though he couldn’t be the first, Karan Johar did bring Bachchan and SRK together, and he took it even a notch higher as he brought one of the most loved real life Bollywood couples, Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan, together with one of the most loved reel life Bollywood couples, SRK and Kajol. He packaged these with the two hottest debutantes of the previous year, Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor Khan. Even though the critics were on the fence about the film, the audience showered their love on it and how!
Devdas
If you are recreating a masterpiece, you must justify it by all means. And that is what Sanjay Leela Bhansali did when he took over the director chair for the 2002 adaptation of the Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel Devdas, in colour this time. He brought together the A-team in the casting, and took on SRK, the Badshah of Bollywood, along with the ever so beautiful Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Madhuri Dixit. All of that combined created wonders, so much so, that the film was even nominated at the BAFTAs.
Thugs Of Hindostan
Thugs Of Hindostan
In his illustrious career that has spanned over five decades, Bachchan has worked with innumerable superstars over the years. But it was in 2018 that he collaborated with Mr Perfectionist, Aamir Khan, for the first time. That, combined with Katrina Kaif and the impressive Dangal debutante Fatima Sana Shaikh, the film boasted of an impactful cast. But unfortunately the film couldn’t do well at the Box-Office due to its lacklustre storytelling. However, the film did make one of the biggest opening day collections in Bollywood.
Kalank
Kalank had a big cast of all well-known actors, but the thing that made the film extra special was the reunion of Sanjay Dutt and Madhuri Dixit. It was Sridevi, who was supposed to essay Madhuri’s role, but after her untimely demise, the latter respectfully stepped in. The film had the hit pair of the ’90s, along with the hit pair of Gen-Z, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt, along with the talent of Aditya Roy Kapur and Sonakshi Sinha. But it was the story that proved to be its downfall, as even after a good first day collection, the film wasn’t able to survive.
Pathan
The upcoming actioner featuring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone in the lead is also pulling off a big casting coup. Apart from bringing together this hit pair, it features another leading actor, John Abraham, as the antagonist in the film. Not only that, the film will also feature a cameo by Salman Khan as Tiger, bringing SRK and Salman together after years.
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