Kajol reveals why she turned down Karan Johar’s Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna for Aamir Khan’s Fanaa: 'My daughter was really small then'

Released in 2006, Fanaa became an instant blockbuster, winning hearts with its soulful music, powerful dialogues, and emotional storytelling. Directed by Kunal Kohli and produced under the Yash Raj Films banner, the film starred Aamir Khan and marked Kajol’s much-anticipated comeback after the birth of her daughter, Nysa Devgn.

While fans remember Fanaa for its hauntingly beautiful shayari and the sizzling on-screen chemistry between Aamir and Kajol, few know that Kajol actually turned down Karan Johar’s Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna to be a part of the film.

In a recent interview with Varinder Chawla's page, Kajol confirmed that she was offered Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, which eventually starred Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Abhishek Bachchan, and Rani Mukerji.

“Well, Karan did offer me Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna at that point of time, but I think he wanted to go abroad for three months. My daughter was really small then — six months or a year old. I was like, I can’t do it. I’d love to — I think he made a fantastic film — but I just couldn’t leave my child or my husband for that long. That’s when the 'Ma instinct' kicked in.”




Aamir Khan insisted on Kajol for Fanaa

Interestingly, director Kunal Kohli once revealed that when Aamir Khan was approached for Fanaa, he already had a lead actress in mind, and it was none other than Kajol. Kohli recalled that when discussing potential co-stars, Aamir simply kept repeating, “Kajol, Kajol, and Kajol.”

The director admitted he was surprised by Aamir’s suggestion, assuming Kajol would prioritise Karan Johar’s film, especially since it also featured her long-time co-star and friend Shah Rukh Khan. However, after reading the script for Fanaa, Kajol instantly agreed to the role of Zooni Ali Beg, a visually impaired Kashmiri woman, and made the film her comeback vehicle.



Fanaa went on to become one of the highest-grossing films of 2006, reportedly earning around Rs 130 crore at the box office. The film was not only a commercial success but also a critical one, cementing Kajol and Aamir’s pairing as iconic in Bollywood history.