In the 90s, Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit were among Bollywood’s biggest stars, admired not only for their individual charm but also for their on-screen chemistry. At one point, the duo was almost finalized for Subhash Ghai’s ambitious project Pardes. But in a surprising twist, the director replaced them with two newcomers — a decision that changed the course of Bollywood careers.

The Film That Slipped Away

Released in 1997, Pardes eventually starred Shah Rukh Khan alongside debutants Mahima Chaudhary and Apoorva Agnihotri. Veteran actors Amrish Puri and Alok Nath added further depth to the film. While Salman and Madhuri were the initial favorites for the lead roles, Subhash Ghai changed his mind just before the final casting.

Why the Big Change?

In an interview, Subhash Ghai revealed that after the failure of his previous film Trimurti, he faced immense pressure to ensure Pardes would succeed. The industry strongly believed that only big stars could guarantee a hit. However, Ghai took a gamble by introducing fresh faces, reasoning that he wanted the audience to focus on the story rather than the stardom.

The risk paid off. Pardes became a box office success, Mahima Chaudhary even won the Best Debut Actress Award, and both she and Apoorva Agnihotri rose to instant fame.

Legacy of Pardes

Interestingly, Pardes was also Subhash Ghai’s first film shot abroad. Its soulful soundtrack composed by Nadeem-Shravan turned into an all-time hit, so much so that Ghai gifted the music duo two cars as a token of gratitude.