Sunny Deol was originally set to play Jimmy Sheirgill’s role in Dil Hai Tumhara, reveals Rajkumar Santoshi | Exclusive

Mumbai: Rajkumar Santoshi has revealed that Dil Hai Tumhara was originally conceived as a project for Preity Zinta, with the filmmaker personally developing the story around her. Although he intended to direct the film for Tips, scheduling commitments to another project meant he had to step away, and the directorial duties eventually went to Kundan Shah.

Looking back, Santoshi told News9 Digital, “I was the one who first narrated Dil Hai Tumhara to Preity. It was a tailor-made role written especially for her.”

The filmmaker also shared a little-known anecdote about the film’s casting. According to him, Sunny Deol was initially slated to play a quirky ventriloquist, a role that ultimately went to Jimmy Sheirgill.

Santoshi recalled that the character had been envisioned as an out-and-out comic part and revealed, “Sunny had even practised with the doll. We also did a photo shoot for the look, and I think I still have those photographs.”

Reacting to the revelation, Preity Zinta admitted she had never heard the story before, saying, “Really? I didn’t know that!” Sunny Deol, meanwhile, agreed that the photographs were likely still around.

Dil Hai Tumhaara is a 2002 Hindi romantic drama directed by Kundan Shah and starring Preity Zinta, Mahima Chaudhry, Arjun Rampal, Rekha and Jimmy Shergill. Shergill plays Sameer, a sweet and soft-spoken puppeteer who has been deeply in love with Shalu (Preity Zinta) since childhood but chooses to keep his feelings hidden.

Currently, Sunny Deol have been promoting his movie Batwara 1947 with Preity Zinta.