Karan Johar was going to send me out of the industry: Anushka Sharma

Even as the furore over Pakistani artists in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil boils over, the cast and crew seem to be having fun. In a recent interview with film critic Rajeev Masand, Karan Johar and Anushka Sharma opened up on an old 'rivalry' between them. Replying to Ranbir Kapoor's jibe that he was already cast for the part before Sharma was brought in, the actress said, "I am happy I am doing the film. He was going to make me go out of the industry itself (sic)." 

To his credit, Johar admitted it. Apparently, it dates back to the time when Aditya Chopra was planning to cast  Sharma as his leading lady for Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008). He had approached Johar with pictures of Sharma to take an opinion. As Johar said, "I went back on my word. My word was that she should never be picked. I told him (Aditya Chopra) not to cast her. He showed me her photographs and other stuff, and I was like 'Are you mad? What are you thinking?'" 

The director was definitely not a fan of the actress in her debut movie. Johar recalled how Sharma looked lost on her first day on the sets of Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, and thought, 'Poor thing, I have to be nice to her now. She has no career left after this movie.'

Hopefully, it was friendly banter since neither the director nor the actress have any qualms about working with each other now. 

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil is set to release on 28 October.