In 2009 a romantic drama emerged that would redefine contemporary love stories in Bollywood. This film directed by master of storytelling Imtiaz Ali featured a narrative that oscillated between two eras exploring complexities of modern relationships mix-matched with traditional romance. Despite its eventual success the casting process was fraught with unexpected changes leading to a lineup that wasnt initially envisioned. Which film is this? The film we are talking about is cult classic Love Aaj Kal starring Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone. Interestingly Deepika wasnt the first choice for the role of Meera Pandit. Imtiaz Ali had initially approached Kareena Kapoor for the part but she declined due to scheduling conflicts. Did Saif Ali Khan wanted Kareena Kapoor to play role of Meera? Saif had a desire for Kareena Kapoor Khan to star alongside him yet Imtiaz preferred Deepika and ultimately they proceeded with Imtiazs selection. In a throwback interview Saif stated I believe she (Kareena) was very eager to collaborate with Imtiaz Ali once more and I think he assured her that she would be in his upcoming film.” How Giselli Monteiro entered Love Aaj Kal? Similarly the role of Harleen Kaur was originally intended for actress Sushmita Sen but after extensive auditions Brazilian model Giselli Monteiro was cast. Giselli had come to Mumbai in 2008 and auditioned for the role of Jo Jais girlfriend in the second half of the film. However on the suggestion of Imtiaz Alis ex-wife Preety Ali that she should be cast as Harleen especially since he had not been able to find a suitable actress for that role despite auditioning girls from all over India. What was the storyline? Love Aaj Kal weaves two parallel love stories: one set in the present day featuring Jai (Saif Ali Khan) and Meera (Deepika Padukone) and another from the past showcasing the romance between Veer Singh (also Saif Ali Khan) and Harleen Kaur (Giselli Monteiro). The film delves into the evolving nature of love commitment and the choices individuals make in pursuit of happiness. The supporting cast includes Rishi Kapoor as the older Veer Singh Neetu Singh in a special appearance as the older Harleen and Rahul Khanna as Vikram Joshi who essayed the role of Meeras husband in the film. How was the box office reception? Love Aaj Kal was made on budget of Rs 35 crore and was released on 31 July 2009 that turned out to be commercial success. It grossed approximately Rs 120 crore worldwide making it one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of the year.