Prateik Babbar reveals Sanjay Leela Bhansali wanted to cast him in Saawariya, but he ‘was in rehab’

Prateik Babbar made his debut in the Bollywood industry with the 2008 movie, Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na which featured Imran Khan and Genelia D’souza, in which he played the brother of Genelia’s character. However, did you know that actor was approached by Sanjay Leela Bhansali for the 2007 movie Saawariya? Yes, you read that right! However, he missed the opportunity.

Talking about the same, Prateik in a recent interaction with Mashable India, stated that he was in rehab at the time SLB wanted to cast him. “Actually I have a funny story. Mr Sanjay Leela Bhansali was calling my house when I was 18 years old, when I was in rehab, for Saawariya. I was too young, I was in rehab so it couldn’t have worked out. But my grandparents told me a few years later.”

 

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The actor further revealed that not being a part of Saawariya did not affect him at that point in life, because he did not want to be an actor. Babbar said that he wanted to be a cricketer instead. “I never wanted to be an actor. I just stumbled into it and it became my calling. Since both my folks were actors – and good actors. I wanted to be a rockstar at that time, far away from the world of acting. I wanted to grow my hair, wear eye make-up, face make-up and scream on stage. Before that, I wanted to be a cricketer.”

For the unversed, Saawariya eventually saw the Bollywood debut of Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Prateik will be seen next in Bachchhan Paandey co-starring Kriti Sanon, Akshay Kumar, Arshad Warsi, and Jacqueline Fernandez. It is scheduled to hit the cinemas on 18th March.

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