You won’t believe what Chetan Bhagat revealed about Alia Bhatt-Arjun Kapoor’s casting in 2 States, ‘This is not…’

Chetan Bhagat reveals some surprising facts about the making and casting process of Alia Bhatt and Arjun Kapoor's 2 States, which will definitely leave you in shock.

The 2014 film 2 States, starring Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, was a massive hit at the box office. But did you know that the original choice for the lead roles was none other than Bollywood’s King Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Jiska Bada Naam, Priyanka Chopra?

What did Chetan Bhagat reveal?

In a recent interview, author Chetan Bhagat, who wrote the bestselling novel on which the film is based, opened up about the early casting choices for 2 States. According to Bhagat, filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj was initially attached to direct the project, and big names like Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Priyanka Chopra were being considered for the lead roles. Bhagat recalled, “There was a time Vishal Bharadwaj was going to make it. There was a time when Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Priyanka Chopra’s names were talked about.”

Why was Chetan Bhagat doubtful?

However, the final casting decision was far from what Bhagat had envisioned. When he found out that Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, both relatively new actors at the time, were chosen for the lead roles, Bhagat admitted to feeling a bit doubtful. “To be honest, when they said, there is a new director and it’s Arjun Kapoor who had one movie and Alia Bhatt who had one movie, Student Of The Year. I was like ‘okay’, but this is not what was discussed,” Bhagat said. But despite his initial reservations, Bhagat was pleasantly surprised by the chemistry between the lead actors and the freshness they brought to the film.

The humility of King Khan

What’s heartwarming is that Shah Rukh Khan’s humility has always left a lasting impression on Chetan Bhagat. The author recalled an instance where SRK pulled a chair for him when he visited the sets of Om Shanti Om with his mother. Another time, when Bhagat visited SRK’s residence with filmmaker Mohit Suri, the actor accompanied them to their car to bid goodbye, making them feel special and close.

Story Highlights

1. Chetan Bhagat revealed that SRK and Priyanka Chopra were being considered for the lead roles before Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt came on board.
2. Bhagat admitted to feeling uncertain about the casting decision at first but was later impressed by the chemistry between the lead actors.
3. SRK’s kind gesture towards Bhagat and his mother left a lasting impression on the author.
4. The film, starring Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, was a commercial success and received praise from critics and audiences alike.

The 2014 film 2 States was a surprise hit, thanks to the fresh chemistry between Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt.