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Niki Walia Says Shefali Shah’s Role In Dil Dhadakne Do Was First Offered To Her: ‘Wapas Le Liya Gaya Mujhse’
Niki Walia says she was replaced by Shefali Shah in Dil Dhadakne Do. She recalled Zoya Akhtar’s call informing her about the sudden casting change.
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Niki Walia has opened up about a role she came very close to playing in Zoya Akhtar’s 2015 film Dil Dhadakne Do. The actress revealed that she was initially chosen for the part that eventually went to Shefali Shah. For the unversed, Shefali played Neelam, the wife of Anil Kapoor’s character in the film. Niki recalled how everything seemed to be in place before the project slipped away, and Zoya informed her about the sudden casting change.
Niki Walia Says Shefali Shah Replaced Her In Dil Dhadakne Do
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In a conversation with Buzzzooka Prime, Niki revealed she had already gone quite far in the casting process. She said Zoya Akhtar had specifically flown her in from the UK, and she had attended scene readings and meetings with the team.
“Woh yaha tak aakar, wapas le liya gaya mujhse. Unke apne reasons honge. But meri cruise ki dates sab fixed thi. Sab kuch ho gaya tha. Zoya Akhtar ne mujhe UK se khaas fly karke bulaya tha. (After it came this far, it was taken away from me. They must have had their own reasons. But all my cruise dates were fixed. Everything was done. Zoya Akhtar had specifically flown me in from the UK),” said Niki.
Niki Walia Recalls Zoya Akhtar’s Call
“We did the scene readings, everything. They were okay with it. They even took my passport. The dates were booked too. And I was returning home after meeting them in India to prepare my family for the fact that I would be on a cruise for two to three months. So, the day before I was leaving, Zoya called me and said, ‘Niki, I am really sorry, but because of an internal decision, we are not going ahead with you.’ I always have this thought that I wish I had got that role. But it’s okay. What doesn’t happen, doesn’t happen. What is meant to be is what is meant to be,” said Niki.
Niki said she was disappointed, especially because everything had seemed final by then. However, she made it clear that she did not hold the decision against Zoya or the team.
Why Was The Role Eventually Given To Shefali Shah?
Niki believes it was ultimately a creative choice, and the filmmakers may have felt that her personality came across as too strong for the character they had in mind.
“I felt I was completely suited to the character, but I think they made that decision creatively because they may have felt that, between my personality and Shefali’s, I perhaps came across as stronger. They may have felt that the wife needed to appear like someone who could appear vulnerable. Maybe because that is also Shefali ji’s zone- she does sentimental roles and vulnerable characters. So it was a creative decision. Who am I to question it? But yes, I do regret the missed opportunity,” she said.
For her, it remains one of those roles that she would have loved to play.
Dil Dhadakne Do stars Anil Kapoor, Shefali Shah, Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma and Farhan Akhtar.
Key Questions Answered
Ask News18Niki Walia was initially chosen for the role that Shefali Shah ultimately played in Zoya Akhtar’s 2015 film “Dil Dhadakne Do”.
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Original source: https://www.news18.com/
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