Before the Spark: The Bollywood Role That Almost Made Salman Aishwarya's Brother

Picture this, if you will: Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, on screen together, yes, but not in the way you remember them. Not as the passionate, star-crossed lovers of a certain iconic Sanjay Leela Bhansali film. No, quite the contrary, in fact. What if, just imagine for a moment, Salman had been cast as Aishwarya’s brother?

It sounds… well, it sounds almost unbelievable, doesn't it? Yet, it was a scenario that very nearly became a reality in the sprawling, sometimes whimsical tapestry of Bollywood. Long, long before the cinematic universe brought them together as Nandini and Sameer in the unforgettable 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam'—a film that, let's be honest, truly cemented their on-screen chemistry in the minds of millions—there was another project bubbling away. And in that project, the casting could have shifted everything.

The film in question? Mansoor Khan's 'Josh,' a vibrant, Goan-set tale of rival gangs and youthful exuberance, featuring none other than Shah Rukh Khan as Max, Aishwarya Rai as his twin sister Shirley, and Sharad Kapoor as Prakash, the leader of the opposing Eagle gang. Aishwarya, with her dazzling presence, played the spirited sibling to SRK, a dynamic that felt fresh and utterly charming. But here's the kicker, the fascinating twist in the tale: initially, the role of Shirley’s brother, Max, wasn’t exclusively eyed for Shah Rukh.

Whispers from the annals of Bollywood history, you see, suggest that Salman Khan, the beloved 'Bhaijaan' himself, was actually considered for Max’s part. Think about that for a second. Salman, portraying Aishwarya's protective, hot-headed twin brother. It's a delightful, if slightly jarring, thought, isn't it? The sheer irony, the dramatic shift in potential public perception, knowing what was to come for them later, feels almost too perfect for a screenplay itself. Would the audience have ever bought into their passionate romance if they had first seen them in a sibling role?

Ultimately, of course, Shah Rukh Khan stepped into Max’s shoes, delivering a performance that became quite iconic in its own right, and perhaps rightly so. His chemistry with Aishwarya as siblings was effortless, adding a layer of warmth and camaraderie that resonated with audiences. But the ‘what if’ remains, a tantalizing glimpse into an alternate cinematic universe where two of Bollywood's biggest stars might have shared a different kind of bond on screen. It truly makes you ponder the delicate balance of destiny and choice, both in films and, well, perhaps in life too.