Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra were once considered for 2 States, reveals Chetan Bhagat 2 : Bollywood News

Author Chetan Bhagat recently shared that Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra were once considered for 2 States, the hit romantic drama based on his bestselling novel. The 2014 film, which eventually starred Alia Bhatt and Arjun Kapoor, won audiences over with its fresh chemistry and relatable story, but it seems the casting could have looked very different at one point.

Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra were once considered for 2 States, reveals Chetan Bhagat

In an interview with Pinkvilla, Chetan Bhagat revealed that filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj had initially been interested in adapting 2 States for the big screen. Talking about the film’s early stages, Chetan said, “There was a time when Vishal Bhardwaj was going to make it. There was also a time when names like Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Priyanka Chopra were being discussed. I think articles mentioning several actors’ names had come out back then.”

He went on to share his reaction when the final cast was announced: “To be honest, when I was told there was a new director and that it would star Arjun Kapoor, who had done only one movie, and Alia Bhatt, who had debuted with Student of the Year, I was a bit surprised. This wasn’t the cast that was originally discussed. But it turned out to be a great decision — the young cast made the movie feel fresh and relatable. If older actors had done it, maybe it would still have worked, but this version really connected with people.”

Directed by Abhishek Varman, 2 States also featured Ronit Roy, Amrita Singh, and Revathy in key roles. The film followed the love story of a couple from different cultural backgrounds and the challenges they faced convincing their families. It received praise from celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Prabhudheva, Riteish Deshmukh, and Sonakshi Sinha, and performed well at the box office.

As for the cast, Arjun Kapoor was last seen in Mere Husband Ki Biwi, which did not perform as expected at the box office. Before that, he appeared in Singham Again, where he played the antagonist who kidnaps Kareena Kapoor’s character, drawing parallels to Ravana abducting Sita in the epic Ramayana.

2 States remains one of the most popular film adaptations of a Chetan Bhagat novel, celebrated for its humor, emotion, and portrayal of modern Indian relationships.

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