Chitrangda Singh Regrets Saying No To Tanu Weds Manu, Gangster: 'I Made Those Mistakes'
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Chitrangda Singh opens up about rejecting 'Tanu Weds Manu', 'Gangster' and missing Shah Rukh Khan's 'Chalte Chalte'. 'I made those mistakes,' she admits.
Chitrangda Singh, who was recently seen in Housefull 5, sat down for a candid conversation with SCREEN where she looked back at her 20-year journey in Bollywood. The actress opened up about her unconventional path in the industry, her nine-year-long sabbatical, missed career-defining roles, and how personal challenges shaped her trajectory.
Reflecting on her debut film Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi and how the years have flown by, Chitrangda shared, 'It's been a very quick 20 years. When I look back, I feel like I have gotten far more than I expected. I don't think I was a very ambitious person. I didn't think I was going to go places. I was quite happy that I would get married and just have a good time; I never had a vision for myself. I feel that everything has been more than I expected. In 20 years, there have been 9 years of breaks in between. 11 years of working and people have not forgotten me, so I feel grateful."
Asked whether a film like Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi could be made today, she expressed hope for more meaningful cinema: 'I wish films like Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi get made because cinema should not just be for entertainment alone. There are films to entertain, and then there should be films about certain matters which need to go on record as cinema history. I wish we did more films like that."
On her long sabbatical, Chitrangda explained the reasons that kept her away from the screen: 'The first seven years of break were because of my personal life, my commitment to that, and I had a son. I came back, and then I took another two-year break because I was going through a rough patch in my personal life again. In between that also I did not have the kind of work that I was looking for coming my way, so I decided to not be around because I was also going through my emotional ups and downs and I didn't want to do stuff that I won't be happy doing. So there was a rollercoaster of life going on. So yes, I did not do as much work as I probably would have wanted to do."
The actress also opened up about the major films she missed out on during that time and how those decisions still linger. 'I have made those mistakes. I said no to Anurag Basu's Gangster. I refused Tanu Weds Manu. In Mangal Pandey, I said no to the role that Ameesha Patel played. There was one more that I am forgetting, and then there was Chalte Chalte that starred Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji, which I wasn't around for at all. They had run into some trouble and wanted to desperately cast someone. SRK had told me this. Saeed Mirza had loved my work, and they were looking for me. Juhi Chawla's brother Bobby was looking for my number. I had worked with SRK on an ad film when he had told me all this."
Despite the detours, Chitrangda's presence and impact have endured. She continues to believe in the power of authentic storytelling and meaningful roles. On the work front, she confirmed that another commercial film is underway and that she will be announcing a new project this September.
First Published:
June 22, 2025, 14:17 IST
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