For Ishqiya, Vidya was not Preity Zinta was the first choice: Irfan-Pankaj Tripathi seen in the role of Naseeruddin-Arshad, Starcast had to change on refusal

The film Ishqiya was released in 2010. Through this film, Arshad Warsi, Vidya Balan and Naseeruddin Shah got different identity. However, Pankaj Tripathi, Irrfan Khan, Lara Dutta and Preity Zinta were the first choice for this film. In his recent interview, filmmaker Abhishek Choubey said that everyone had refused, due to which the starcast had to be changed.

In a conversation with Masable India, director Abhishek Choubey said, 'Pankaj Tripathi, Irrfan Khan, Lara Dutta and Preity Zinta were cast for the film Ishqiya. In the role of Babban in the film, Arshad was Irfan Khan before Warsi, but when I told him a new version of the script, he felt that he had nothing worth in the story. I felt for the first time that he would not do my film. When the script was doing excellent work, there was a lot of bad behind the curtain.

Abhishek said, “Along with Irfan, when other stars also refused to do the film, we considered many stars.” After this we approached Vidya. He read the script and immediately said yes. Whereas Naseeruddin Shah asked with Harani if ​​you really want to cast me? I have not romanced in films. While doing this, Arshad Warsi finally also joined the team.

Vishal Bhardwaj was angry with Irfan Khan

In a conversation with Lalantop, Vishal Bhardwaj had said, 'We had not cast a big actress in Ishqiya, as she did not want to work with Irfan Khan, as she had not become a successful actor until that time. Because of this I was very angry with Irfan. I did not talk to him for 2-3 years. Even I did not pick up his phone.