Alisha Chinai, the renowned singer, has disclosed that she was once considered for the lead female role alongside Aamir Khan in the classic film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. However, after her audition, she realized that acting was not her calling and chose to withdraw from the opportunity.
In a conversation with trade expert Komal Nahta on his podcast Game Changers: The Music Series, Alisha shared her aspirations of acting alongside her singing career. During the audition for the 1988 film, which ultimately featured Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla, she recalled rehearsing lines with Aamir.
“Besides singing, I had aspirations of becoming an actress. This is a story that only Aamir and I share. It was for Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. I attended the audition, and he helped me practice the dialogues. After that experience, I returned home feeling that I couldn’t perform on cue. I find the acting in Bollywood films to be quite artificial, lacking in realism,” she expressed.
Chinai emphasized that the audition made her realize her discomfort with acting, leading her to forgo the final round. “I was not fond of that style and sensed that acting would not suit me. I told myself, ‘No, you are a good singer; let go of this acting dream.’ Thus, I opted out of the final audition. There were only two candidates – Juhi and me. Aamir was disappointed with my decision but later appreciated that I recognized it was a wise choice,” she recounted.
Alisha also reminisced about a subsequent encounter with Aamir, humorously speculating on his thoughts regarding her choice. “After that incident, I met Aamir once more, and we exchanged smiles. At least he smiled at me. I half-expected him to think, ‘What a foolish decision,’” she added.
Additionally, Chinai mentioned that she was unwell on the day of the final audition, which contributed to her decision not to participate, as she had already made up her mind about acting not being her path. “People often think I’m difficult. Aamir might have wondered, ‘What’s wrong with her? She must be crazy,’ but I genuinely felt I wouldn’t fit in. I had a fever that day, but more importantly, I sensed it just wasn’t for me. I didn’t want to go,” she explained.
Despite the chance she passed up, Alisha expressed no regrets about her musical career. She humorously noted that stepping away from the film could have been a “monumental mistake,” but ultimately, singing had proven to be her true talent.
Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, which premiered in 1988 and was directed by Mansoor Khan and produced by Nasir Hussain, marked a significant milestone for Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla, propelling them to stardom.
Interestingly, Juhi Chawla has also recounted how Aamir aided her in preparing for the film’s audition, as he was tasked with helping her memorize lines and rehearse scenes at Nasir Hussain’s residence.
Alisha Chinai has since carved out a successful career in playback and pop music, emerging as a defining voice of the Indipop movement. Her 1995 album Made In India, in collaboration with Biddu, was a pivotal point in her career, while hits like “Kajra Re,” “Ruk Ruk Ruk,” and “Tinka Tinka” solidified her status as a leading Bollywood singer.
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