‘Kareena Kapoor said she would’ve stolen the limelight from Hrithik Roshan’: Ameesha Patel looks back on their ‘feud’

Ameesha said that she didn’t comment on the matter back then, and asserted that Hrithik was such a naturally gifted star that nobody, let alone Kareena, could’ve overshadowed him in Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai. Asked if the comments ‘hurt’ her, as she was very young at the time, Ameesha said, “I think I was always very mature,” and listed the educational qualifications of her family members, who, she said, instilled her with good values.

Recently, Ameesha claimed that director Rakesh Roshan told her that Kareena didn’t quit Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, but was ‘asked to leave’. She told Bollywood Bubble, “Actually, she didn’t back out. From what Rakesh ji told me, he asked her to leave the film because they were having differences. And Pinkie aunty, his wife and Hrithik’s mom, said that they were shocked because the set was ready, and a replacement Sonia had to be found in three days, and crores of rupees (had been spent) on that set, and it was Hrithik’s debut and everyone was really stressed. Pinky aunty told me that the day Rakesh saw me at the wedding, he did not sleep all night. He was like ‘I got my Sonia, I got my Sonia, but I hope she says yes’.”

Kareena had made several comments about Ameesha to Filmfare in 2002. “The film was made for Hrithik. His dad spent five hours on every frame and close-up of his, whereas not even five seconds were spent on Ameesha. There are portions in the film where she has pimples and under-eye bags on her face. She just doesn’t look beautiful, but every shot of his was a dream. If I were in the film, I would have definitely got a better deal, but I still feel that the attention would have divided between us. So, I’m glad I didn’t do the film,” she said.