Manisha Koirala may have worked with some of the most celebrated filmmakers in Indian cinema, but there’s one regret that still lingers; never sharing a film set with legendary director Yash Chopra.
Speaking on the ‘Filme Shilmy’ podcast, the actress opened up about her long-held admiration for Chopra’s work, particularly his ability to portray women with grace, style, and emotional depth.
“As a kid, when I used to watch ‘Chandni’ or ‘Lamhe’, my god, I so wanted to work with Yash ji,” she recalled with a smile. “I missed out on working with a legend like that, who portrays women so beautifully, so glamorously, and in such beautiful songs.”
Manisha Koirala revealed that she did, in fact, get an offer from Yash Chopra in the 1990s. But instead of accepting, she stepped back, a decision she now openly regrets.
“When he offered me a film, I backed off because of my own insecurity,” she admitted. Although she didn’t name the project, it is well-known in Bollywood circles that Chopra had approached her for a role in his 1997 musical romance ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’.
The part eventually went to Karisma Kapoor, but not before making the rounds of several top actresses. After Koirala turned it down, Chopra reached out to Juhi Chawla, who also declined, she wasn’t keen on playing a supporting role to Madhuri Dixit, especially after being the main heroine opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Chopra’s ‘Darr’ (1993).
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Kajol was next on the list, but she, too, refused, having just starred with Shah Rukh in ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ (1995).
Raveena Tandon and Urmila Matondkar also passed, before Karisma Kapoor stepped in and delivered a performance that won her the National Award for Best Supporting Actress.
In hindsight, Koirala’s choices were other opportunities. She went on to star in Mani Ratnam’s ‘Dil Se’ (1998) opposite Shah Rukh Khan; a film that, despite its mixed box office reception, earned critical praise and is still popular for its iconic soundtrack.
Still, the thought of never working with Yash Chopra remains a bittersweet note in her career.