Is Kareena turning down wrong films?

Dostana is one of the most anticipated releases this year. Fate played a very important role in Priyanka's casting in this film. Rumor has it that Ash turned down the role because it was too sexy and her character didn't settle down with Abhishek's character in the end and Abhishek didn't want Kareena Kapoor – the next choice - in the film and that’s how Priyanka bagged the role.

But this isn't the first time that Kareena Kapoor has lost a plum role to a rival - she has been doing this since her debut days.

Fashion was initially offered to Kareena Kapoor but she turned down the role because it was edgy, racy and uninhibited choosing to play safe with comic caper Golmaal Returns instead. Madhur Bhandarkar then chased Priyanka Chopra for six months before she agreed to do it. And voila! Fashion is being lauded as the finest performance and best film of Priyanka's career. The success of the film has broken her flop spell at the box office. Needless to say, with Fashion running to packed houses and the much anticipated Dostana ready for release, this hot and gorgeous Desi Girl is on a roll.

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham is easily one of the biggest hits of Bebo's career and her flawless portrayal of the Diva-like Poo earned her many accolades. She was director Karan Johar's natural choice for his first production venture Kal Ho Naa Ho. Bebo however, wasn't as sweet to her powerful friend and quoted a fee so high that even KJo could not afford to have her in the film. So he replaced her with the bubbly Preity Zinta who got a physical and career makeover with this film, gaining entry into the all-powerful Yash Raj and Dharma Productions camp. Preity won several awards for her performance and even thanked Kareena for refusing the role because it changed the face of her career.

Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai's success was unprecedented and unmatched, making Hrithik Roshan a superstar and introducing the petite and beautiful Amisha Patel to Bollywood. Again, she was not director Rakesh Roshan's first choice. Portions of the movie had already been shot with Kareena and Hrithik but the makers replaced her with Amisha because Babita's constant interference annoyed them. Following KNPH, Amisha won accolades and awards for Gadar and Humraaz.

No one imagined the cult status and success the obscure looking Page 3 would achieve. Madhur Bhandarkar must have liked Kareena Kapoor's versatility and sensitive portrayal in films like Chameli and Dev and offered the author backed role to her. Miss Arrogance personified turned down the role which landed in Konkona Sen-Sharma's lap, paving the path for her Bollywood career. Page 3 unleashed the not-so-glamorous reality of the film world and won several National and popular awards. Konkona has since wowed us with powerhouse performances in 15 Park Avenue, Omkara and Laaga Chunari Mein Daag and has Dharma Productions' Wake Up Sid in her kitty among many other plump projects. 

But Kareena need not fret. In spite of all these losses and the flops of her career, she is still one of the most sought after, versatile and beautiful actresses today. She has Kambakht Ishq, Main aur Mrs Khanna, Agent Vinod and a Dharma Productions film to look forward to. But one can’t help but wonder that had Bebo taken on all these films that she turned on, where would her career be today?