Before it became a household name and a record-breaking television franchise, Naagin was destined for the 70mm screen. In a recent candid trip down memory lane, content czarina Ekta Kapoor revealed that her supernatural saga was originally envisioned as a high-budget feature film, with Bollywood heavyweights Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Katrina Kaif as the top choices for the lead role.
The revelation has sparked a wave of nostalgia and “what-if” scenarios among fans, as Kapoor detailed the “priceless” reactions she received when she first pitched the concept of a vengeful shape-shifting serpent to the two global icons.
“Do You Have a Dealer’s Number?” — Katrina’s Skepticism
Fresh off the critical and commercial success of The Dirty Picture, Ekta Kapoor was looking to break more barriers. She wanted to take traditional Indian folklore and give it a modern, cinematic “path-breaking” treatment. Her first stop was Katrina Kaif.
Kapoor recalled the encounter with a touch of wit, noting that Kaif was visibly bewildered by the idea. “I still remember I went to Katrina and told her about my idea. She looked at me and thought I had smoked up something really nice,” Kapoor shared. According to the producer, Kaif jokingly wondered if the idea was a result of some high-quality substance, even asking for her “dealer’s number.”
Beyond the humor, Kaif’s hesitation was rooted in market viability. She questioned whether a story centered on a Naagin (serpent woman) would resonate with a modern Indian audience in an era of slick, contemporary cinema. “Will India watch?” was the pivotal question that left the project in limbo.
The “Yes” That Travelled West
Undeterred, Kapoor took the script to Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Unlike Kaif, Chopra reportedly showed genuine interest in the “bigness” of the folklore and even agreed to the project.
“Priyanka had said yes,” Kapoor confirmed. However, timing proved to be the ultimate villain. Around the same period, Chopra was beginning her transition to Hollywood, with her international career taking off. As she “went off to America” to pursue global projects like Quantico, the ambitious film version of Naagin lost its leading lady.
The Pivot to Television
Disillusioned by the skepticism of film stars but still convinced of the power of Indian mythology, Kapoor decided to take a leap of faith. Instead of waiting for a Bollywood “A-lister” to validate the concept, she moved the project to television.
“I was like, I want to make a show out of it… we did Naagin on TV because we could take the risk. I didn’t need the attachment of a big film star there,” Kapoor explained.
The result was a cultural phenomenon. By launching Naagin on the small screen, Kapoor didn’t just find an audience; she created a massive franchise that has spanned six successful seasons and catapulted actors like Mouni Roy and Tejasswi Prakash to superstardom.
The Power of Folklore
Reflecting on the journey, Kapoor noted that while India often obsesses over Western superheroes like Batman and Superman, there is an untapped goldmine in homegrown legends. She cited the success of films like Baahubali as proof that audiences crave epic storytelling rooted in local culture.
Though the Priyanka-Katrina version of Naagin remains a “lost” piece of Bollywood history, Kapoor holds no grudges. She continues to admire both actresses for their “smartness” and “grit,” hoping to eventually collaborate with them on a project that finally bridges the gap between folklore and the big screen. To know such latest updates tuned tellyboosters.com Thank you!
