Did You Know? Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt Were Meant to be Launched by Sanjay Leela Bhansali

It was  Poonam Dhillon who approached Sanjay Leela Bhansali to launch her son. An offer that he was allegedly skeptical about. So many newcomers approach Bhansali’s home production in the hope of a break. In the past almost every major and  minor star-child’s parent has been at   Bhansali’s office hoping for a  break. Alia  Bhatt and Sara Khan were both approached to be launched by Sanjay Leela Bhansali Productions before they were taken on by Karan  Johar.

Not too many people  know this. But Deepika Padukone  was to be  launched in Bhansali’s Saawariya. But  then,  launching Anil Kapoor’s daughter alongside Rishi and Neetu Kapoor’s  son  Ranbir made a  lot more commercial sense  to Bhansali.

It was  only when Deepika lost Saawariya that she went to Shah Rukh and Farah Khan for Om Shanti Om.

Alia Bhatt  was meant to be launched  at age 12 in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Hamari Jaan Ho Tum. But the  project never materialized. Even Fawad Khan  came to Bhansali Productions for his Indian launch before  moving to Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions.

Coming to Anmol, actress Poonam Dhillon and producer Ashok Thakeria’s son, it was Poonam Dhillon who approached Bhansali Productions for her son’s launch. Since Sanjay Leela Bhansali doesn’t meet newcomers directly it was the CEO of his company Shobha Sant who told  her boss to take  a look.

“I think this  young man is  going to be  a  star,” Sant prophesied.

SLB saw  Anmol’s  show reel and immediately agreed  to produce  his launch film. The  film is being directed by debutant Taranveer Singh who  assisted  Ayan Mukerjee  on the Karan  Johar Production  of  Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani. As a matter of fact, reveals a source , Taranveer had discussed his directorial  debut with Ranbir and Karan  Johar. But before it could  materialize, he  was summoned by Bhansali Production  to shot Anmol Thakeria’s debut film.

Simply put, between Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Karan Johar, newcomers (especially star kids) have a great platform to be launched!