Juhi Chawla had rejected Dil To Pagal Hai: Did not want to do a supporting role with Madhuri Dixit, said- left the film due to ego problem

The 1997 film Dil Toh Pagal Hai was a huge hit, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Karisma Kapoor in the lead roles. However, Yash Chopra wanted Juhi Chawla to play the role of Nisha in the film, not Karisma. He even offered the film to Juhi, but she turned it down due to rivalry with Madhuri Dixit. Juhi has said that she left the film due to ego problems.

In an old interview given to Zoom, Juhi Chawla had given the reason for rejecting the film Dil Toh Pagal Hai and said, We (Juhi and Madhuri) started our careers together. Her Tezaab came in the same year and mine was Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. Throughout our careers, we were always pitted against each other. It was always the case that sometimes one of us was number one, sometimes the other. All this went on for a long time.

Further he said, when I worked with Yash Chopra in the film Darr, he wanted me to work in Dil Toh Pagal Hai as well. And he also wanted to work with Madhuri. He wanted me to do another role (Nisha's). I thought why should I do another role. I had some insecurities and ego problems, so I did not do the film. This was the only time when we could work together.

When Juhi Chawla turned down the film, Yash Chopra cast Karisma Kapoor in that role. The film received 11 Filmfare nominations in 1998, out of which it won in 7 categories. Karisma Kapoor received the National and Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for the film.

Even though Juhi Chawla and Madhuri Dixit could not work together in the film Dil To Pagal Hai, both of them were seen together in the 2014 film Gulaab Gang.