Hrithik Roshan was the first choice for Bunty Aur Babli

Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukerji’s hit film Bunty Aur Babli released 20 years ago, but not many know that Hrithik Roshan was originally approached to play the role of Bunty. Director Shaad Ali recently revealed that Hrithik was his “first choice” for the role, and that the actor even influenced a key plot point in the film.Rakesh Roshan was keen, but Hrithik had ‘reservations’In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Shaad shared that he spent several months discussing the project with Hrithik Roshan and his father, filmmaker Rakesh Roshan. “We sat for a few months with him. Rakesh ji liked the script a lot and he was keen that Hrithik should sign the film. But Hrithik was not very comfortable going into the small-town zone at that time,” said Shaad, adding that Hrithik had certain “reservations” about the role of a small-town conman.Hrithik pitched the film’s new endingWhile Hrithik eventually opted out of the project, he contributed significantly behind the scenes. Shaad shared that it was Hrithik who came up with the idea for the film’s now-iconic ending. “It was Hrithik’s idea that Bunty and Babli should return to conning in the last scene. He reasoned, ‘They are like Superman! They can’t go back to their lives and not return ever in the con world.’

In the original idea, the story ended once Bunty and Babli were let off and became law-abiding citizens,” he revealed.“I should have thanked Hrithik in the credits,” Shaad added.

Rani was always Babli, and the Bachchans added magicWhile Abhishek Bachchan eventually came on board, Rani Mukerji was always the first choice for Babli. The film also marked a special milestone in Hindi cinema as it was the first time Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek shared screen space. It remains the only film where Amitabh, Abhishek, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who would later marry Abhishek, appeared together.

Even Jaya Bachchan, though not part of the cast, was thanked in the film’s credits. Explaining why, Shaad said, “That was the time when the Uttar Pradesh Film Board had just been established. Jaya ji and Amar Singh were a part of it. This was the first film which was majorly shot in the state. We didn’t get any subsidy but we were assured of complete administrative help.”