WHAT! Kareena Kapoor backed out of Ram Leela just a week before shoot? Here’s what happened next

Aakruti Bagla

October 26, 2023
10:39 am
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Koffee With Karan season 8 first episode was indeed heartwarming with Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone spilling beans about their relationship. Ranveer recalled how Kareena backed out of Ram Leela just a week before shoot and he recommended Deepika.

kareena kapoor, ranveer singh, deepika padukone,

Key Highlights

Not Deepika Padukone but Kareena Kapoor Khan was the first choice of Ram Leela.
Ranveer Singh recalls his first meeting with Deepika Padukone.

Koffee With Karan season 8 has began with a bang with power couple Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone. The couple made their first appearance together on the couch after wedding and the moment was indeed heartwarming. From their first meeting, to proposal, and finally treating us with a beautiful glimpse, Ranveer-Deepika spilled it all about their relation. While we are aware, the dreamy love-story began on the sets of Ram-Leela, Deepika was initially not the first choice for the movie. The role was offered to Kareena Kapoor who backed out and then Deepika Padukone came on board for Ram Leela. When Karan Johar asked Ranveer when did he realise love for DP, the actor admitted he recommended the actress.

Ranveer Singh reveals Kareena Kapoor backed out of Ram Leela

Talking about their first meet, Ranveer recalled, “Ram-Leela was supposed to happen with myself and Kareena Kapoor in the lead. The set was ready. One week before roll, for some reason, Kareena had to exit the film. Then we were sitting and wondering who to cast. And Cocktail had just happened (released). So there was a discussion with Mr Bhansali, all the ADs and myself in the office, about who should we take. And I was batting for team Deepika, because I just saw Cocktail, and she got cast.”

Ranveer-deepika-sanjay-leela-bhansali

Ranveer Singh recalls recommending Deepika Padukone and their first meet

He further said, “There was a famous or infamous reading for Ram Leela at Mr Bhansali’s house in Versova. I was supposed to meet him before Deepika’s arrival. So I was sitting on the table and the door was on my left. He has these heavy doors and he lives by the seaside. So, these heavy doors open and the gush of wind comes from the sea. There, Deepika enters wearing this white chikankari, hair blowing due to the sea wind just like some sadgi ki moorat(embodiment of simplicity). I was like ‘Oh My God’!”

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Ranveer further revealed how did that moment of spark happened and gushed, “When we were sitting with Mr Bhansali on the lunch table and we were having crab. The piece of crab had stuck in Deepika’s teeth and being a smartass I offered to help her. That day I felt like putting my pinky finger on a socket and experienced a jolt. The next day we realised the comfort zone.”

Reason Kareena Kapoor backed out of Ram Leela

Sanjai Leela Bhansali is one director Kareena never worked with. He earlier approached her for Devdas as well but she turned down the offer. When reports of her backing out from Ram Leela were surfacing, she stated in an interview that the reason were dates and fees issue. There were also reports that she opted out because she was more keen on doing Gori Tere Pyaar Mein. In a statement, Kareena clarified, “I walked out a week ago. I had allotted 100 I days for the shooting in August as per contract but Mr Bhansali wanted more days to shoot. My managers Reshma Shetty and Zahid Khan thought about it and decided it wasn’t possible as I have signed three new big films for next year. The shooting for one of them begins in October immediately after the release of Heroine. I’ve also given 32 days of promotional time for Heroine as it’s a very special film for me. That wouldn’t have been possible if I had given those dates to Ram Leela.”