Junaid Khan reveals why Kiran Rao chose Sparsh Shrivastav over him in Laapataa Ladies; says, “He was more suited for the role”

Junaid Khan recently revealed that he auditioned for the lead role in the directorial debut of Kiran Rao, Laapataa Ladies. However, Sparsh Shrivastava was chosen for the part. Before making his debut in Yash Raj Films’ Maharaj, Junaid had previously auditioned for his father’s film, Laal Singh Chaddha, alongside his stepmother Kiran Rao. In a recent conversation, Junaid shared that both he and Kiran tested for the roles of a mother and son in that project. However, the film’s significant budget limited the possibility of introducing a new actor in a key role.

Junaid Khan on Kiran Rao choosing Sparsh Shrivastav for Laapataa Ladies

In an interview with Vickey Lalwani on his YouTube channel, Junaid stated, “You might have seen me in Laal Singh Chaddha because I tested for it with Kiran Rao playing my mother. We filmed 7-8 scenes over four days, adding up to about 20 minutes of footage. It was a chance for me to show how I handled the material. Ultimately, it didn’t pan out mainly due to budget constraints. It was quite costly to cast a newcomer in a high-stakes film.” Aamir Khan not only starred in Laal Singh Chaddha but also co-produced it. The film was an Indian adaptation of the 1994 classic Forrest Gump, which featured Tom Hanks in the lead role.

Interestingly, Junaid auditioned for more than just Laal Singh Chaddha. He also tested for the lead role in Laapataa Ladies, but Kiran ultimately decided that Sparsh Shrivastava was a better fit. Junaid elaborated, “The situation with Laapataa Ladies was different. I did a screen test for the film, but Kiran said, ‘Sparsh Shrivastava is better for the part,’ and I completely agree with her. He was more suited for the role.”

Despite not being cast, Junaid emphasized that his relationship with Kiran remains strong. “We have a great rapport. She is very fun and warm, and we get along extremely well,” he remarked. While Kiran directed Laapataa Ladies, Aamir Khan produced the film. It was notably India’s official entry for the Oscars this year, although it did not receive a nomination.

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