Shah Rukh, Priyanka were first considered for 2 States: Chetan Bhagat

Author Chetan Bhagat has revealed that Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra were initially considered for the film 2 States, before Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt were finalized.

In an interview with Pinkvilla, Bhagat said, “For 2 States, bigger stars were being talked about. Shah Rukh Khan was being considered. There was also a time when Vishal Bhardwaj was going to make it. Then names like Saif Ali Khan and Priyanka Chopra were discussed.”

He added that he was unsure about the final casting when a new director and two relatively new actors were chosen. “Arjun was just one film old, and Alia had only done Student of the Year. I wasn’t convinced. But it turned out to be amazing casting — their freshness and youth made the film what it was,” he said.

Bhagat also shared that several actors had turned down roles in Kai Po Che!, another film based on his novel The Three Mistakes of My Life. “All the stars rejected it, so we had to cast Sushant Singh Rajput, Rajkummar Rao, and Amit Sadh. I had little hope from the movie, but it became one of the best adaptations,” he said.

2 States, produced by Dharma Productions, became a major hit in 2014, striking a chord with young audiences for its portrayal of an inter-cultural romance inspired by Bhagat’s own life.