Birthday Throwback: When Ameesha Patel was unaware that she was offered Chalte Chalte opposite Shah Rukh Khan!

Ameesha Patel's last release Gadar 2 has amassed over Rs 500 crore at the box office, marking a comeback for the actress. Ameesha, who turns a year older today, burst onto the Bollywood scene with her debut in Rakesh Roshan's Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai alongside Hrithik Roshan in 2000. She later collaborated with stars such as Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Aamir Khan, and Sunny Deol, among others.Interestingly, she never had the opportunity to share the screen with Shah Rukh Khan. In an old interview, Ameesha disclosed that she was once offered the lead role in Chalte Chalte, something that she was not even aware of herself.

Recalling the incident, Ameesha revealed, "There were some films I didn't even know were offered to me. In fact, while I was dubbing for Humraaz, Shah Rukh Khan was also in the same studio, dubbing for Chalte Chalte. When we unexpectedly crossed paths, he said, ‘Ameesha, let me show you a little bit of the film you rejected.' I was taken aback, unaware that the film had been offered to me."
She further noted the evolution in the industry dynamics, stating, "Today, directors and producers directly approach you. Back then, there was a hierarchical structure with secretaries often acting as gatekeepers." While Rani Mukerji eventually portrayed the lead role in Chalte Chalte, Ameesha went ahead and did films like Humraaz in 2002 alongside Bobby Deol and Akshaye Khanna.

During the interview, Ameesha also opened up about missed opportunities due to mismanagement, citing an instance involving filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali. She revealed, "After parting ways with my manager, Mr. Bhansali told me, ‘You know, there were moments when we were supposed to work together but I did not want to deal with your manager.'"