Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, is one of the most loved actresses in Bollywood and has made career choices that reflect her personal and professional principles. One notable instance was her decision to decline a role in the 2014 film ‘Happy New Year’, directed by Farah Khan. This film featured an ensemble cast, including Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Boman Irani, and Sonu Sood. Despite the film’s potential for success, Aishwarya declined to concerns about the on-screen dynamics involving her husband, Abhishek Bachchan.
Throughout her career, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been discerning in her selection of roles. She has declined several high-profile projects, such as ‘Troy’, ‘Munnabhai MBBS’, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’, and ‘Krrish’, all of which went on to achieve significant success.
In 2014, Farah Khan approached Aishwarya Rai Bachchan with a role in ‘Happy New Year’. The film was designed as a heist-comedy, bringing together a group of characters aiming to win a dance competition as part of their elaborate plan. The star-studded cast and the film’s entertaining premise made it an attractive project. In a past interview with NDTV, Aishwarya acknowledged that the film “did seem like quite a fun trip” and anticipated that working on it would be “a fun experience”Despite the film’s appeal, Aishwarya had reservations about the on-screen pairing arrangements. In ‘Happy New Year’, Deepika Padukone was cast opposite Shah Rukh Khan, while Abhishek Bachchan’s character did not have a romantic counterpart. Aishwarya felt that appearing in the same film as her husband without being paired together would be “really, really weird”. This led her to decline the offer, prioritising the authenticity of on-screen relationships and her personal comfort.
‘Happy New Year’ proceeded without Aishwarya’s involvement and achieved commercial success upon its release. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan have shared the screen in several films, including ‘Kuch Naa Kaho’, ‘Guru’, and ‘Raavan’. Their on-screen chemistry has always been appreciated by audiences.
Over the years, Aishwarya has become increasingly selective about her film projects. She was last seen in the 2023 film ‘Ponniyin Selvan 2’.
