Karan Johar, whose Ae Dil Hai Mushkil is rock steady at the box office despite all the pre-release controversy it courted, admitted that the film wouldn't have been made if Aishwarya Rai Bachchan had not agreed to come on board. He said that only Aishwarya could have essayed the role of Saba in the film.
"Sabse indispensable casting thi Aishwarya Rai Bachchan ki hai. Agar Ranbir na kehta to mera solution tha, agar Anushka na kehti to mera option tha, Aishwarya ke liye mere paas option nahi tha. Agar woh na karti to mai ye picture nahi banata. Woh jo role tha Saba only Aishwarya Rai could do, " Pinkvilla quoted Karan as saying.
(Aishwarya was the most indispensable actor in ADHM. If Ranbir would have opted out I would have found out a way to fill in the slot, if Anushka had rejected the offer, I had someone in mind who could replace her, but couldn't have done much if Aishwarya hadn't agreed to come on board. I wouldn't have made the film. Only Aishwarya could have played Saba).
In other news, Amitabh Bachchan has finally opened up on Aishwarya's role in ADHM. While delievering a speech at the Kolkata International Film Festival 2016, the senior actor said that her portrayal of Saba has turned the tables on men. Hopefully, this will put a lid on the ongoing rumours.
For a few months now, there has been a view that the Bachchan household did not take Aishwarya's decision to shoot bold scenes with Ranbir Kapoor too kindly. However, sources close to the family have repeatedly said that they are true professionals and will never interfere in each other's professional activities.
