Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Subhash Ghai on casting Aishwarya Rai, Akshaye Khanna in Taal
A long time ago, in 1999, a movie called Taal came out in India.
It was a love story full of music and dancing.
The person who made the movie is named Subhash Ghai.
He chose two young actors, Aishwarya Rai and Akshaye Khanna, to be the stars.
Some people were not sure these young actors were the right choice.
But Mr. Ghai believed new faces would make the movie special.
Aishwarya had just won a big beauty contest called Miss World.
Mr. Ghai told her she could not wear makeup in the first hour of the movie.
He wanted people to see her as a real character, not just a beauty queen.
The movie became a big hit and everyone remembered its songs, which were made by composer AR Rahman.
Subhash Ghai's 1999 musical romantic drama Taal starred Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai and Akshaye Khanna.
Akshaye Khanna was cast on the recommendation of his father, actor Vinod Khanna, who brought him to Ghai's home.
Aishwarya Rai was suggested by veteran choreographer Saroj Khan after Ghai asked for names apart from Madhuri.
Ghai told Aishwarya Rai she would appear without makeup in the film's opening hour, saying he needed to "destroy your image."
Taal, featuring a celebrated soundtrack by AR Rahman, became a major commercial success in India and overseas.
- Who
- Subhash Ghai, who wrote, produced and directed Taal, along with actors Aishwarya Rai, Akshaye Khanna and Anil Kapoor; casting recommendations came from Vinod Khanna and Saroj Khan.
- What
- Ghai's recollections of casting Aishwarya Rai and Akshaye Khanna for his 1999 film Taal, including his instruction that Rai appear without makeup for the opening hour.
- When
- Taal was released in 1999; Ghai shared the recollections recently in an interview with NDTV.
- Where
- India, where the film was made and released; it also succeeded in overseas markets. Vinod Khanna brought Akshaye Khanna to Ghai's home for the recommendation.
- Why
- Ghai believed the film needed fresh faces and sought to strip away the glamorous pageant-and-cosmetics image Aishwarya Rai had acquired so she could embody her character.
- Film
- Taal (musical romantic drama)
- Release year
- 1999
- Director, writer and producer
- Subhash Ghai
- Lead cast
- Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai, Akshaye Khanna
- Music composer
- AR Rahman
- Casting recommendations
- Akshaye Khanna by Vinod Khanna; Aishwarya Rai by Saroj Khan
- Aishwarya Rai's background
- Recent Miss World winner from the cosmetics world
- Box office performance
- Major commercial success in India and overseas