'Dhurandhar' actress Saumya Tandon was to play Nargis Fakhri's character in Ranbir Kapoor starrer 'Rockstar'? Here's what the 'Bhabhiji Ghar Pe Hai' actress has to say

Actor Saumya Tandon has made her return to films with ‘Dhurandhar’ after an 18-year hiatus, appearing as Akshaye Khanna’s on-screen wife. Yet, for many, she remains memorable as Roop from Imtiaz Ali’s 2007 classic ‘Jab We Met’. Interestingly, Saumya reveals that her first meeting with Imtiaz wasn’t for that film at all, it happened during the early casting discussions for ‘Rockstar’, when the team was searching for their female lead.Sharing the story, Saumya says, “I had actually met Imtiaz for another film for a lead. I met him through UTV. He was making Rockstar with them at that time. So the meeting was for Rockstar and then this (Jab We Met) came up and I just thought that I was so new and had no one to guide me. I met Imtiaz for the first time where they could meet where they were casting for a Kashmiri girl.”Ultimately, she chose to take on the role of Roop, Geet’s (

Kareena Kapoor Khan

) sister in ‘Jab We Met’. Looking back at that phase of her career, Saumya reflects, “I was a baby when Jab We Met happened.

I was just a baby, fresh out of college and I had no idea what was happening. I really liked Imtiaz just like how I fell for Aditya Dhar’s script and I thought ki chalo kone mein chupke dekhenge ki kaisa hota hai badi films mein and it will be like an induction for me. But the film became so huge.”Whether or not Saumya was ever actually shortlisted for ‘Rockstar’ remains unclear, as the

Ranbir Kapoor

starrer eventually went back into production years later and released in 2011 with

Nargis Fakhri

in the lead.

Recalling the uncertainty around the project at the time, she adds, “They were meeting a lot of girls to cast for Rockstar. Weather they decided or me or not I don’t know. That film fizzled out with UTV back then and Ashtvinayak ke saath 'Jab We Met' happened. 'Rockstar' happened two years later with Ranbir Kapoor. Initially it was supposed to happen with John Abraham and a new girl.”