Some of the most commercially successful films in Bollywood are helmed by renowned directors and big names in the industry, including Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Ranbir Kapoor and others. But did you know that they were all initially approached to star in a heartfelt story about love and cultural differences, adapted from Chetan Bhagat’s best-selling novel? The 2014 film 2 States was first offered to Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Ranbir Kapoor. Since they refused to play the lead, Arjun Kapoor was roped in to play the quintessential Punjabi boy opposite Alia Bhatt.
2 States recently marked its 10th anniversary since its release. Directed by Abhishek Varman and produced by Karan Johar, the film has endured the test of time and remains popular among fans even after a decade. According to a report by DNA, prior to casting Arjun Kapoor, producer Sajid and author Chetan Bhagat revealed that Saif Ali Khan was initially considered for the lead role. However, for reasons undisclosed, he declined the offer, leading to Shah Rukh Khan being approached. Interestingly, it’s reported that Vishal Bhardwaj was initially slated to direct 2 States and had creative differences regarding the setting of the film. The filmmaker, in a conversation with MidDay, said, “We had differences over the setting of it. I wanted to set it not in a college but in a bank like ICICI. So, that’s where we were different. Shah Rukh wanted it in a different setting.”
Later, the publication also revealed that Ranbir Kapoor was approached for the lead role but he declined the offer as well. Subsequently, Karan Johar suggested Arjun Kapoor’s name for the part. Reportedly, during the trailer launch of the film in 2014, producer Sajid Nadiadwala admitted that he had doubts about casting Arjun Kapoor after the initial rejections from popular celebrities. However, as filming progressed, he became convinced that Kapoor was the perfect fit for the role.
Along with Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, the cast of 2 States included Amrita Singh, Ronit Roy, Revathi and Shiv Kumar Subramaniam. 2 States earned Rs 105 crore net in India. It grossed Rs 175 crore worldwide, according to Sacnilk.
The film follows the journey of Krish Malhotra, portrayed by Arjun Kapoor, a Punjabi boy from Delhi who falls in love with Ananya, played by Alia Bhatt, a Tamil Brahmin girl. Their love story unfolds against the backdrop of their MBA studies at IIM-Ahmedabad. 2 States was inspired by the real-life love story of Chetan Bhagat.
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