Why Deepika, Alia, and Shraddha Said No: Aamir Khan Reveals the Real Casting Crisis of Thugs of Hindostan

Despite YRF’s efforts to cast top actresses, the role went to Fatima Sana Shaikh—raising eyebrows due to her Dangal past with Aamir Khan.

Aamir Khan has opened up about the casting hurdles faced by Thugs of Hindostan—particularly the struggle to finalize a female lead. In a recent conversation, the actor revealed that several leading ladies, including Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, and Shraddha Kapoor, declined the role despite it being a high-profile Yash Raj Films (YRF) project.

This unexpected rejection spree put producer Aditya Chopra and director Vijay Krishna Acharya in a bind. Eventually, they turned to Fatima Sana Shaikh, who had previously starred alongside Aamir in Dangal as his on-screen daughter. While Fatima impressed in auditions, there was major hesitation over the optics of casting her as Aamir’s romantic interest so soon after their father-daughter portrayal in one of Bollywood’s biggest blockbusters.

“This was a real concern for Adi and Victor,” Aamir explained. “They kept asking—‘How can she be your girlfriend now? People will find it strange. They won’t accept it.’”

Further complicating matters were rumors of a real-life relationship between Aamir and Fatima, which circulated heavily during the film’s production. Aamir, however, never publicly addressed those speculations.

Speaking candidly about the situation, Aamir clarified his stance: “I don’t buy into that logic. I’m neither her father nor her boyfriend in real life. We’re just actors working on a film together. That’s it.”

Despite boasting a mega-star cast including Amitabh Bachchan and Katrina Kaif, Thugs of Hindostan failed to meet box office expectations, becoming one of YRF’s costliest misfires. Looking back, the casting dilemma seems to have been one of many obstacles the film couldn’t quite overcome.

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