When we think of the movie Wanted, we immediately picture Salman Khan’s swagger as Radhe and his sweet, understated chemistry with Ayesha Takia. However, producer Boney Kapoor recently disclosed that the superstar actually had a different leading lady in mind: Katrina Kaif.
At the time of filming, Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif were one of Bollywood’s most talked-about couples. Naturally, Salman suggested Katrina’s name for the role of Jhanvi. He felt their real-life comfort would translate well onto the screen for the Hindi remake of the Telugu hit Pokiri.
While having Katrina—who was already a massive star—would have been a safe bet for the box office, Boney Kapoor had a different vision.
Boney explained that his decision wasn’t based on talent, but on the logic of the script. In the film, the character of Jhanvi is initially very hesitant and ambivalent about her feelings for the rough-around-the-edges Radhe.
Boney reasoned that if he cast Katrina, the audience would already be used to seeing them as a couple. To make Jhanvi’s confusion and eventual love feel authentic, he felt the film needed a “fresh pairing.” He wanted an actress who hadn’t been paired with Salman before so that the audience could discover their chemistry for the first time along with the characters.
Before settling on Ayesha Takia, the makers toyed with several names. Interestingly, Genelia D’Souza was also high on the list. However, after much deliberation, Ayesha Takia was finalized. Her “girl-next-door” charm turned out to be the perfect foil for Salman’s aggressive, “rowdy” persona.
Boney’s gamble clearly paid off. Wanted went on to become a massive hit, reviving Salman’s career and turning him into the “Box Office King” of the 2010s. The fresh pairing was widely praised, proving that sometimes, a producer’s gut feeling is more valuable than following the obvious star-power trends.
Looking back, it’s hard to imagine Wanted without Ayesha Takia’s innocent performance, but it’s fun to wonder how different the “Radhe” era might have looked if Salman had gotten his way. To know such latest updates, stay tuned to tellyboosters.com Thank you!
