The timeless melody of 'Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga' instantly evokes the image of Manisha Koirala from the classic film '1942: A Love Story'. For decades, the song and the actress have been fused together in the collective consciousness of Bollywood fans. However, in a fascinating twist of cinematic history, the legendary lyricist Javed Akhtar has disclosed that this iconic love ballad was not originally intended for Manisha at all.
The Original Muse: Madhuri Dixit
At a public event, Javed Akhtar peeled back the layers of time to reveal the film's initial casting. He explained that Madhuri Dixit was the first choice for the female lead in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's '1942: A Love Story'. With her in mind, Akhtar crafted the beautiful lyrics of 'Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga'.
Addressing the audience, Akhtar shared a personal anecdote. He said that only two people in the hall knew this secret—himself and Madhuri Dixit. He recounted meeting her at a party at the Taj hotel, where he expressed his disappointment. "I knew you were the heroine, I wrote this song for you, and you left the film," he told her. However, he expressed happiness that the song was eventually performed for her on stage, fulfilling its original purpose.
Manisha Koirala's Evolving Perspective
During the early 1990s, Manisha Koirala, who eventually bagged the role, was frequently compared to Madhuri Dixit and even labeled her lookalike. In a 2024 interview, Manisha admitted that she was not flattered by these comparisons at the time.
With maturity, her viewpoint transformed completely. She later stated that she grew to deeply admire Madhuri, not just for her beauty and grace, but for her character. Manisha called her a "wonderful woman" and a "humble person," expressing love and respect for her. She reframed the early comparisons as an honour, acknowledging Madhuri's super talent and beauty. The two powerhouse actresses later shared screen space in Rajkumar Santoshi's 2001 film 'Lajja'.
Madhuri's Quiet Role in Manisha's Career
In an interesting turn of events, Madhuri Dixit inadvertently played a supportive role in Manisha Koirala's career launch. Manisha later revealed that Madhuri had noticed her during a photoshoot with photographer Rakesh Shrestha. Impressed, Madhuri recommended Manisha to veteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai for his film 'Saudagar'. This recommendation led Ghai to call for Manisha's portfolio, setting the stage for her Bollywood debut.
On the work front, Madhuri Dixit is set to appear in the upcoming streaming film 'Mrs Deshpande' on JioHotstar. Meanwhile, Manisha Koirala was recently seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's acclaimed Netflix series 'Heeramandi', showcasing her enduring talent and screen presence.
