Junaid Khan Auditioned for Laapataa Ladies but Lost Role to Sparsh Shrivastava

Junaid Khan auditioned for Laapataa Ladies, Kiran Rao’s directorial venture, but the lead role eventually went to Sparsh Shrivastava. Despite missing out, Junaid Khan reflected positively on the experience and shared insights into his acting journey.

Junaid Reflects on the Audition

In an interview with Vickey Lalwani on YouTube, Junaid shared his thoughts about auditioning for Laapataa Ladies. Kiran Rao, the director, ultimately felt Sparsh Shrivastava was a better fit for the role. Junaid said, “Kiran just said, ‘Sparsh Shrivastava is better for the part,’ and I agree with her. He was better suited for the role.”

He also discussed his audition for Laal Singh Chaddha, where he filmed 20 minutes of footage over four days in a screen test alongside Kiran Rao. However, budget concerns and the film’s scale led Aamir Khan to decide against casting him in the movie.

Relationship with Kiran Rao

Junaid Khan emphasized that not being cast in Laapataa Ladies did not affect his bond with Kiran Rao, his stepmother. Describing her as a “fun and warm person,” he expressed respect for her creative decisions and vision.

Directed by Kiran Rao and produced by Aamir Khan and Jyoti Deshpande, Laapataa Ladies tells the story of two newlywed brides who get swapped during a train journey to their husbands’ homes. The film features Sparsh Shrivastava, Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Chhaya Kadam, and Ravi Kishan in key roles.

The film was chosen as India’s official entry for the 97th Academy Awards in the Best International Film category but failed to make the shortlist.

Despite the setbacks, Junaid Khan auditioned for Laapataa Ladies with determination, continuing to focus on building his career and honing his craft in the industry.