Bobby Deol recalls being brutally kicked out of Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan's Jab We Met: 'It’s so heartbreaking... Imtiaz Ali was a very close friend'

Bobby Deol has opened up about a lesser-known chapter from his career, which is his early involvement in the much-loved romantic classic Jab We Met. Speaking to Instant Bollywood, the actor revealed that he was instrumental in getting the project off the ground but was eventually sidelined, with Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor stepping into the lead roles.
Bobby Deol was the one who pushed for Jab We Met to be made
Bobby clarified that he was never formally offered the film but played a significant role in its early development. “I wasn’t offered,” Bobby said. “Back then when Socha Na Tha was getting made, I saw its rush print. I caught Imtiaz and said, ‘Look, your film hasn’t released yet; it’s only halfway done. I’m working with you, so write the script.’ So, he started writing the script for me. I tried really hard to make that film (Jab We Met) happen; I reached out to a lot of people.”
Bobby suggested Imtiaz Ali to producers
He also went the extra mile to assemble the right team to bring the film to life. “I approached a producer, Ashtavinayak. Actually, he came to me wanting to make a film. I suggested he take Imtiaz, but he said, ‘No, not Imtiaz. We want to go with another director.’ At that time, Imtiaz and I were really good friends, we still are, but we were super close back then.”
Bobby was dropped as Shahid and Kareena came on board
Bobby even tried to cast the female lead, reaching out to two top actresses at the time. “Then he said he wanted Kareena Kapoor, so I arranged a meeting with Kareena through someone. But she also turned it down. After that, I talked to Preity Zinta, and she said she wasn’t interested at that moment. She said— I can’t do it now, I’ll do it later.”
Despite all the effort he put in, Bobby was ultimately left out when the project moved forward. “And the industry is such that the producer to whom I had suggested that he take Imtiaz, ended up taking him. Meanwhile, they kicked me out and got Kareena and Shahid instead. That’s how it happened.”

On being replaced and his emotional struggle with the industry's ways
While it was a disappointing turn of events, Bobby now reflects on the experience with maturity. “What happened happened, and Imtiaz made that film. It can be tough in the industry; I was really upset about it at the time. But Imtiaz also had his struggles; he was just starting his career and didn’t have many choices. That sort of thing happens a lot in this business. It’s so heartbreaking, but it wasn’t meant to be, or it just never clicked.”

Jab We Met went on to become one of the most iconic Bollywood love stories.