When filmmaker Karan Johar questioned actress Preity Zinta about being the second choice for the movie “Kal Ho Naa Ho” after Kareena Kapoor, she responded gracefully. During her appearance on ‘Koffee With Karan’, Preity likened the role to a pair of jeans tried on but not purchased. She expressed that the film was destined for her.
Karan had inquired how she felt stepping into Kareena Kapoor’s shoes as the replacement choice. Preity’s analogy compared the situation to trying on jeans in a store that fit well but were not bought, emphasizing that it doesn’t make them one’s own. She recalled questioning why Kareena did not take the role after hearing the script and learning that Kareena was the initial preference.
“Kal Ho Naa Ho,” directed by debutant Nikkhil Advani and written by Karan Johar and Niranjan Iyengar, was produced by Yash Johar under Dharma Productions. The film starred Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Preity in lead roles, supported by Jaya Bachchan, Sushma Seth, Reema Lagoo, Lillete Dubey, and Delnaaz Irani. Set in New York City, the story follows Naina Catherine Kapur (played by Preity Zinta) falling for her neighbor Aman Mathur (played by Shah Rukh Khan), who tries to match her with Rohit Patel (played by Saif Ali Khan) due to a hidden secret.
