Bollywood fans might be surprised to hear this. Ameesha Patel once turned down a role in Akshaye Khanna’s very first film, ‘Himalay Putra’! In a candid chat with IANS, the ‘Gadar’ star spilled the beans on why she missed out on what could have been an early career milestone.
The twist? It wasn’t a matter of ego or bad script. It was all about school! Ameesha revealed that when the offer came, Vinod Khanna himself personally approached her parents to convince her to join the film.
Also Read: How did Akshaye Khanna go from being forgotten to becoming the most celebrated actor of 2025?
But back then, Ameesha was thousands of miles away, studying in the United States and fully immersed in academics.
“I was too young. I had no interest in films at that time,” Ameesha admitted. “And I was very academic and loved reading. I was completely focused on studying, so we decided to reject that film.”
Family matters
It seems her family’s guidance played a big role in the decision. Despite the personal appeal from the legendary Vinod Khanna, Ameesha and her parents prioritized her studies over the silver screen.
Yet, life had its own plans: she would later work with Vinod Khanna in films, along with his brother Rahul and cousin Karan.
Celebrating Akshaye Khanna’s journey
Fast forward to today, Akshaye Khanna is back in the spotlight with his recent hit, ‘Dhurandhar’. Ameesha couldn’t help but gush about his journey, pointing out that his success is far from an overnight miracle.
“People think he became a sensation overnight, but this is the result of 30 years of hard work,” she said. “I am very happy for him. Today, he is recognised and loved across the nation.”
On-screen chemistry between Akshaye Khanna and Ameesha Patel
Ameesha and Akshaye share a history on screen too. The duo charmed audiences in films like ‘Humraaz’ and ‘Aap Ki Khatir’.