Subhash Ghai’s Taal remains one of the most memorable musical romances of Hindi cinema, thanks not only to its AR Rahman soundtrack but also to the fresh pairing of Aishwarya Rai and Akshaye Khanna. Released in 1999, the film brought together two actors who were still relatively new to Bollywood and went on to become a major commercial success.

Vinod Khanna backed Akshaye Khanna

More than two decades later, Ghai has opened up about the casting choices that initially raised eyebrows, revealing why he was convinced that both actors were right for the ambitious project.