Imtiaz Ali Waited Two Years to Cast Bobby Deol in ‘Jab We Met’, Reveals Kareena Kapoor Supported the Choice

Once, Bollywood’ films director Imtiaz Ali cleared the air about Shahid Kapoor replacing Bobby Deol in ‘Jab We Met’. Kareena Kapoor Khan was not involved in the modification, it was revealed. Jab We Met is a film that has earned a permanent place in our hearts. 

Imtiaz Ali revealed that he waited for Bobby Deol for two years before replacing him with Shahid Kapoor

In a 2023 interview with Lallantop, Imtiaz Ali discussed the reasons for his decision to take Bobby Deol’s place on Jab We Met. The director tells his version of events and says that because he and Bobby are such close friends, he wanted to work with him on the movie. In order for the actor to complete his other assignments, he even delayed for two years, he noted. He said: 

“Socha Na Tha took five years to make and release. Meanwhile, I was trying to start a new film so Bobby was going to do Jab We Met. Then Socha Na Tha got over but I still didn’t make the film for two years because I wanted Bobby to start it.”

Imtiaz went on to say that Bobby Deol was unable to arrange his schedule to work on the movie, even though he waited another two years after Socha Na Tha’s premiere. He went on to say he was in a financial bind because his last movie took five years to complete and he had to wait another two years. The role had to be recast. He was quoted saying: 

“But he was getting other offers from big directors, so he was waiting for that to happen. He kept postponing my film, but then a time came when I didn’t find it correct because a lot of time went by. Because I did Socha Na Tha for five years and I didn’t do a film for two years after that, so it was putting financial strain on me. Then I told Bobby, ‘Let’s not make this film. Let’s shake our hands and decide we will not do this film together because then our thing will be affected.'”

Bobby Deol blamed Kareena Kapoor Khan for being replaced in Jab We Met

In 2017, Bobby sat for a conversation with HuffPost India and shared that Shri Ashtvinayak Studio wanted to sign him. He added that he told the studio to sign Imtiaz Ali as he knew that he had a script ready. Bobby also revealed that he even suggested Kareena Kapoor Khan for the film. Bobby revealed how things changed and stated:

“Days passed. And suddenly I read that Ashtavinayak has signed Imtiaz for Jab We Met and Kareena is doing the film. And she had gotten her then-boyfriend, Shahid Kapoor to act opposite her. I was like, wow. Quite an industry. We were also to do Highway together but he again did his own thing. But I have no hard feelings against him. He is a great director and is doing so well. We’re still friends. But I always tell him: ‘Imtiaz, I won’t watch any of your films until you make one with me. That’ll be your best film.”