Amrita Singh was going through a divorce, said ‘nobody can dominate me' when she was offered Kalyug by Mohit Suri

Indian Express

18-07-2025

Those who have seen Mohit Suri's Kalyug can never forget the character of Amrita Singh. The way the veteran actor portrayed that role left an indelible mark, something that no other actor could have replicated. Mohit shared an interesting story of how she was cast in an interview with Radio Nasha. Mohit recalled how he approached her during a difficult phase when she was going through a divorce with Saif Ali Khan.
'I remember Kunal Deshmukh and I went to meet Amrita ma'am. She was shooting for Kavyanjali at the time, so we went to the set to meet her. I narrated the story to her, saying I wanted her to play a character who dominated a male-dominated industry, a very strong female character. But while watching her, as I was narrating, I was subconsciously thinking something. And after finishing the narration, she said, 'Yeah, I'll do it.' Then Kunal and I left. But on the way back, I told Kunal to immediately turn the car around, saying we made a mistake and needed to go back. We returned, and I told her, 'We made a mistake, ma'am. You be exactly who you are, we want you just like that.' She said, 'Yes, I was thinking the same, that who can dominate me? I am already dominating.' And I said, 'Yes, yes, we want you exactly as you are.''
Also Read | Saif Ali Khan was made to feel 'worthless' by ex-wife Amrita Singh, wasn't allowed to meet his kids: 'Insults, abuses thrown at my mother and sister'
Speaking about her casting further, Mohit said, 'Bhatt sahab suggested her because he had worked with her previously and said she would be really good. At that time, she was just coming out of her marriage, just starting again. You wouldn't believe but she he was as hungry and dedicated to the film as Kunal Kemmu and my sister, who were making their debuts. Because she had seen the success and stardom of a star, that's why she was so good in the film.'
Just as much as Amrita's marriage to Saif made headlines, their divorce in 2004 attracted equal attention. While Amrita stayed largely private about the reasons for their split, Saif openly discussed his side in several interviews. In a conversation with The Telegraph, Saif revealed that their marriage was troubled by constant clashes and disagreements. He said, 'It isn't nice to be constantly reminded of how worthless you are and to have taunts, jeers, insults, and abuses thrown at your mother and sister all the time. I've gone through all of it.' Another contentious aspects of their divorce was the financial settlement. Amrita demanded a hefty alimony, which Saif claimed put a significant strain on him financially. In the same interview, he had mentioned, 'I'm supposed to give Amrita Rs 5 crore, of which I've already given her approximately Rs 2.5 crore. Also, I'm paying Rs 1 lakh per month until my son becomes 18. I'm not Shah Rukh Khan. I don't have that kind of money. I've promised her I'll pay up the rest of the money, and I will, even if I have to slog till I drop dead.'