When Bobby Deol lost ‘Jab We Met’: Imtiaz Ali revealed waiting two years before casting Shahid Kapoor

Jab We Met may be remembered as one of Bollywood’s most beloved romantic dramas, but behind the film’s charm lies a story of casting changes, misunderstandings, and creative decisions that shaped its destiny.Imtiaz Ali waited two years for Bobby DeolIn a 2023 interview with Lallantop, Imtiaz Ali shared that Bobby Deol was initially set to star in Jab We Met. Being close friends, Imtiaz had planned the project with Bobby and even waited for two years to accommodate the actor’s prior commitments. “I didn’t make the film for two years because I wanted Bobby to start it,” Imtiaz revealed.However, after already spending five years working on his debut film Socha Na Tha, and then waiting an additional two years for Bobby, Imtiaz found himself in a financial crunch. Eventually, the delay became untenable. “He kept postponing my film… a time came when I didn’t find it correct. I told Bobby, ‘Let’s not make this film. Let’s shake hands and part ways,’” he explained.Bobby’s Side: “I Suggested Kareena, Then Got Replaced”In a 2017 interview with HuffPost India, Bobby Deol had alleged that he was sidelined from Jab We Met after recommending both Kareena Kapoor and director Imtiaz Ali to the producers. According to Bobby, the actress, after some initial hesitation, agreed to do the film—but only after six months. Soon after, Bobby found himself out of the project and read in the news that Shahid Kapoor had been cast instead, reportedly due to Kareena’s influence at the time.No Hard Feelings, Just Unfinished BusinessDespite the setback, Bobby has maintained a friendly relationship with Imtiaz. He jokingly remarked, “Imtiaz, I won’t watch any of your films until you make one with me. That’ll be your best film.” Meanwhile, Imtiaz continues to praise Bobby and insists the decision was based purely on logistics—not favoritism.On the other hand, Bobby Deol’s previous outing was in the Balayya (Nandamuri Balakrishna) starrer action thriller Telugu movie ‘Daaku Maharaaj’ where he played the role of an antagonist.