Before Madhuri, THIS actress was first choice for Nisha in Hum Aapke Hain Koun—Why was she rejected?

New Delhi: Imagine Hum Aapke Hain Koun without Madhuri Dixit as Nisha. Hard to picture, right? Well, director Sooraj R. Barjatya initially had another leading lady in mind for the iconic role. During a recent appearance on Indian Idol, Sooraj Barjatya took a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

He revealed that Karisma Kapoor was his first choice for the beloved 1994 family drama Prem Qaidi. The popular filmmaker was reportedly blown away by her performance in Prem Qaidi and was convinced she had the charm and talent to play Nisha. Excited by his decision, he even discussed it with his father, Rajkumar Barjatya, while they were still in the writing stage.

Why Karisma Kapoor did not star in Hum Aapke Hain Koun?

However, Rajkumar Barjatya had his reservations. He believed Karisma looked too young for the role, especially since Nisha had to accept Mohnish Bahl’s children as her own on-screen. “Let’s take someone who can carry that weight on her shoulders,” he suggested. And just like that, the Raja Hindustani actress was out of the picture, paving the way for Madhuri Dixit to take on what would become one of the most iconic performances of her career.

Years later, even Karisma acknowledged the what-could-have-been moment. She admitted that she would have loved to play Nisha but agreed that she wasn’t the right age at the time. While the actress went on to rule the ’90s with films like Dil To Pagal Hai, Coolie No 1 and Hero No 1, Hum Aapke Hain Koun remains a defining moment in Bollywood’s history.

About Hum Aapke Hain Koun

Hum Aapke Hain Koun was released in 1995 and became one of the highest-grossing films of the year. Directed by Sooraj Barjatya, it boasted an ensemble cast including Alok Nath, Anupam Kher, Reema Lagoo, Mohnish Bahl, Renuka Shahane, Bindu, Dilip Joshi and more.

And let’s be honest, Madhuri’s performance, her dance in Didi Tera Devar Deewana and her chemistry with Salman Khan? Unforgettable! We can’t help but wonder—how different would the film have been if Karisma had played Nisha?