Shahrukh Khan has said that Rani Mukherji was always his first choice to play the heroine in his next production and not Aishwarya Rai.Aishwarya Rai might have been initially chosen to play SRK's wife in the actor's next home production titled Chalte Chalte. But she was not SRK's first choice.SRK has said that it was Rani Mukherji (who has now replaced Ash in the film) who was his first choice for the role.

However, due to SRK's recurring spinal problems in those days, the actor's shooting dates could not match with Rani's. Ultimately, Ash was chosen for the role. But the Salman episode (in which the ‘bratty' Khan misbehaved with Ash and SRK on the film's shooting sets) cost Miss Rai the project. At the end of the day, SRK had to confide in Rani and sign her for the role.