‘I felt Aishwarya Rai was cosmetic’: Subhash Ghai says Saroj Khan recommended her for Taal

Filmmaker Subhash Ghai expressed skepticism about casting Aishwarya Rai for the lead role in his 1999 film Taal, arguing that she was more suited to the world of cosmetic modeling after her Miss World win in 1994. However, choreographer Saroj Khan convinced Ghai otherwise. During an interview with Times Now, Ghai recounted how Khan recommended her name, stating that among the current heroines, Aishwarya presented the best dance skills.

Initially, Ghai was shocked, claiming that Rai came from the cosmetic world. Nonetheless, watching Mani Ratnam's film Iruvar shifted his perspective. Ghai praised Aishwarya's commitment to the role, noting that actors who surrender to a director's vision succeed. Taal, a 1999 musical romantic drama, also featured Akshaye Khanna and Anil Kapoor, with music composed by AR Rahman.