Chetan Bhagat: Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra Were Considered for ‘2 States’

The romantic drama ‘2 States,’ which found immense success with the fresh pairing of Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, was initially envisioned with a completely different, and arguably more iconic, cast. Novelist and writer Chetan Bhagat, whose best-selling book the 2014 film is based on, recently revealed that Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra were among the top names considered for the lead roles in the early stages of the adaptation.

The Earlier Vision for ‘2 States’

Bhagat shared in a candid interview that the journey to the final casting was a long one, marked by several changes in both actors and director. He stated that at one point, acclaimed filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj was slated to direct the film. It was during this phase that the names of major stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Priyanka Chopra were actively discussed for the roles of Krish Malhotra and Ananya Swaminathan, the inter-regional couple at the heart of the story.

Bhagat recalled, “There was a time Vishal Bhardwaj was going to make it. There was a time when Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Priyanka Chopra’s names were talked about.” This revelation paints a fascinating picture of what the film could have been, given the established on-screen chemistry between Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra from films like Don and Don 2.

Initial Doubts and the Final Casting Surprise

The author admitted that he had initial reservations when the final cast of the less-experienced Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt was locked, along with a new director, Abhishek Varman. At the time of casting, Arjun Kapoor had only one film (Ishaqzaade), and Alia Bhatt had only one (Student Of The Year). Bhagat confessed, “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… I was like ‘okay’, but this is not what was discussed.”

However, the final result turned his initial doubts into pleasant surprise. Bhagat ultimately commended the decision, noting that the youth and freshness brought by Arjun and Alia made the film unique and appealing to the audience. The success of the film proved that the unconventional casting move paid off handsomely, helping the film become a commercial and critical favourite.

A Common Challenge in Adaptations

The casting challenges for 2 States were not a unique experience for the celebrated author. Bhagat also highlighted a similar scenario with his other book-to-film adaptation, Kai Po Che!. He revealed that every major actor initially rejected the film before the casting of relative newcomers Sushant Singh Rajput, Rajkummar Rao, and Amit Sadh, which he now considers the best adaptation of his books.

The story of 2 States serves as a great example in Bollywood filmmaking, illustrating how often the creative process involves many permutations and how an unexpected casting choice, born out of a project’s changing dynamics, can lead to remarkable and enduring cinematic success.