๐คฏ The Bollywood Casting Secret: SRK and Priyanka Chopra Were the Original '2 States' Dream Team
The 2014 hit '2 States,' starring the refreshing pair
of Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, is etched in Bollywood history as the
definitive cross-cultural millennial romance. However, author Chetan Bhagat,
whose bestselling novel inspired the film, has just delivered a stunning
revelation that would have fundamentally changed the film's DNA: Shah RukhKhan (SRK) and Priyanka Chopra were the initial mega-star choices
for the lead roles of Krish and Ananya.
This exclusive look into the film's pre-production sheds
light on the dramatic shifts in Bollywood casting and the genius behind the
final, commercially successful choice.
๐ญ The Original Pitch: A
Mature, Superstar Romance
Chetan Bhagat, in a recent interview, confirmed the
high-profile aspirations attached to the project early on. The adaptation of
his semi-autobiographical novel, 2 States: The Story of My Marriage, was
initially slated for a very different creative team and cast.
- The
SRK Vision: The emotional depth, charm, and powerful screen presence
of Shah Rukh Khan made him the immediate, though perhaps ambitious,
choice for the troubled Punjabi boy, Krish. Had SRK taken the role, the
film would have undoubtedly scaled up into a mature, high-stakes drama
focusing heavily on the parental conflict.
- Priyanka
Chopra's Versatility: The role of the intelligent, ambitious Tamil
Brahmin girl, Ananya, was reportedly considered for Priyanka Chopra.
Known for her versatility and ability to convincingly portray strong,
independent women, PC would have brought a commanding energy to the role.
- A
Different Director: Bhagat also revealed that at one point, acclaimed
filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj was attached to the project, hinting at a
potentially darker, more intense adaptation of the family conflict than
the final, lighter version.
๐ The Pivot: Why Arjun
& Alia Were the Unexpected Success
The project went through several iterations before landing
with director Abhishek Varman and the fresh pairing of Arjun Kapoor
and Alia Bhatt. While Bhagat himself admitted to being initially
"surprised" and "not convinced" by the younger cast, the
final choice proved to be a masterstroke.
- Youthful
Authenticity: The novel’s characters are primarily students and recent
graduates. Arjun (who was then one film old) and Alia (who had only Student
of the Year out) perfectly captured the youthful energy and
inexperience needed for the roles. Their relative newness allowed the
audience to see them as Krish and Ananya, rather than established
superstars.
- Relatability
Quotient: Their fresh, non-controversial chemistry felt more relatable
to the target millennial audience, who propelled the film to become a
colossal commercial success, earning over ₹175 crore worldwide.
- The
Power of Freshness: As Bhagat himself noted, the youth and freshness
of the final casting were key. An older, established pair might have
struggled to convince the audience of the characters' early-career
vulnerability and collegiate romance setting.
๐คฏ The 'What If' of
Bollywood Casting History
The revelation of the original SRK-PC pairing creates one of
Bollywood's most intriguing "What If" scenarios. While the
final casting was perfect for the film's tone, imagining the sheer spectacle
and emotional gravitas that the Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra duo
would have brought to the Punjabi-Tamil family rivalry remains a fascinating
thought experiment.
Chetan Bhagat's candid sharing confirms that sometimes, the
most successful creative choices are the ones that defy initial star-studded
expectations and embrace the power of new, relatable talent.
