We all know and love Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (K3G) for its star-studded cast, tear-jerking moments and the iconic dance-offs! However, what if we told you that the 2001 movie could’ve looked very different? Did you know that the role that eventually went to Vikas Sethi, playing Kareena Kapoor’s character, Pooja's, boyfriend Robbie in the film, wasn’t originally meant for him? Unfortunately, Sethi passed away on September 8, 2024, due to a sudden cardiac arrest. He was 48 years old. Vikas is survived by his second wife, Janhvi, and twin boys.
Well, here’s the kicker – the first choice for Robbie was none other than Bollywood hunk John Abraham! Before John made a mark in Bollywood as the rugged, motorbike-riding heartthrob in Dhoom, Karan Johar had his eyes on him for a much softer, romantic role in K3G.
Let’s rewind to the year 2000 when Karan Johar was busy casting the ultimate family drama. He already had the biggest names in the industry onboard – Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan and Hrithik Roshan. But for the younger generation’s love triangle, he was looking for fresh faces.
That’s when he knocked on John Abraham’s door. His rugged charm and tall frame made him a perfect fit for the role of the hot, campus-cool dude who catches Bebo’s (Kareena Kapoor) eye. However, John turned down the project which paved the way for Vikas Sethi.
John, who had appeared on Karan Johar's show Koffee with Karan Season 1 with Vivek Oberoi, had said on the how the filmmaker offered him this role in K3G and sincerely tried convincing him to take the role. KJo mentioned that Robbie's character had just one scene and one dialogue in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Hence, John recalled refusing the character and said, "I was like, ‘Karan, don’t mind, I really don’t want to do it.”
It was then that Vikas Sethi was offered the role of Robbie. He danced on the hit song You are my Soniya, along with Kareena and Hrithik Roshan.
But can you imagine how things might have turned out if John had taken the role? It’s always fun to imagine what Bollywood movies could’ve been like if the original casting choices had stuck. These 'what ifs' are what we like!