Isha Koppikar Reveals Why She Turned Down Dil Chahta Hai, Calls It Her ‘Life’s Biggest Regret’

Bollywood actress Isha Koppikar is known for her roles in numerous films such as Krishna Cottage, Don, Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya?, among others. Recently, she revealed that she was approached for a role in the 2001 film Dil Chahta Hai, which marked Farhan Akhtar’s directorial debut. However, she revealed that she had already signed Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat, which led her to turn down Dil Chahta Hai. She now calls it her biggest regret, believing she could have done both or chosen Dil Chahta Hai instead. Farhan Akhtar’s Dil Chahta Hai, starring Aamir Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Saif Ali Khan, Preity Zinta, went on to become a cult classic.

Isha Koppikar Recalls Rejecting Dil Chahta Hai

In an interview with Bollywood Bubble, Isha Koppikar said, “It is my life’s

biggest regret of refusing to do Dil Chahta Hai. I had signed the film Pyaar Ishq Mohabbat, and I could have easily told the producer and the director that I also want to do Dil Chahta Hai or that I want to leave your film for Dil Chahta Hai, but I had no one to guide me at that time, and my values in life are so high that once I commit to something, I don’t listen to myself. I think this Salman Khan dialogue is for my life.”

She further added, “I thought how can I betray them after signing their film? I feel that I should have done some jugaad. I could have done both or chosen Dil Chahta Hai over it because unfortunately, Pyar Ishq Mohabbat did not become such a massive hit and Dil Chahta Hai was like a cult film.” Isha was approached for the role of Pooja, the character paired opposite Saif Ali Khan in the film. It was played by Sonali Kulkarni in the film.

Meanwhile, Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat also released in 2001. Directed by Rajiv Rai, the film starred Arjun Rampal, Suniel Shetty, Aftab Shivdasani and Keerthi Reddy. It failed to perform well at the box office.