Latest news with #Azaad
Pink Villa
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Not Ajay Devgn's nephew Aaman Devgan but THIS actor was 1st choice for Azaad, here's what went wrong
Bollywood superstar Ajay Devgn 's nephew Aaman Devgan recently made his Bollywood debut with Azaad alongside Raveena Tandon's daughter Rasha Thadani. The duo made waves with their fiery chemistry on-screen. However, Aaman wasn't the first choice for his role. Instead, Siddharth Nigam, known for his role in Hai Junoon, was the first choice. But things didn't go well after the entire script was narrated to him. In a recent conversation with Instant Bollywood, Siddharth Nigam 's mother shed light on the same and revealed, 'I took him along for the meeting. The entire script was narrated, and we waited for a year.' She revealed she was quite happy with the film as it would have been a 'strong launch' of Siddharth Nigam in the industry. She also shared that she liked the story of Azaad. Unfortunately, things didn't go well. Admitting the same, Siddharth's mother stated, 'Suddenly, after two years, Siddharth showed me the poster of Azaad and said, 'Mum, this has been released, and these are the people in the film'. Then we saw that the film starred Ajay Devgn's nephew and Rasha.' She revealed feeling bad for the first time in her life and added that both Aaman and Rasha are star kids and 'that made all the difference'. Siddharth Nigam chimed in adding that that there's no use of blaming anyone, as such decisions are part and parcel of the film industry. He shared that while it was disappointing, it brought a sense of clarity. After holding onto hope for nearly a year, seeing the teaser was the moment of acceptance for him, a quiet realization that it was time to let go and move forward. Directed by Abhishek Kapoor and produced by Ronnie Screwvala and Pragya Kapoor, Azaad features Ajay Devgn, Diana Penty, Aaman Devgan, and Rasha Thadani. Meanwhile, on the work front, Siddharth Nigam was recently seen in the drama series Hai Junoon! Directed by Abhishek Sharma and produced by Aditya Bhat, it features Neil Nitin Mukesh, Boman Irani, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sumedh Mudgalkar, and Yukti Thareja. You can catch the series on JioHotstar.
Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Siddharth Nigam says he was replaced in Azaad by Ajay Devgn's nephew after waiting for a year, found out from poster: ‘They were star kids'
The period drama Azaad launched the careers of two starkids — Ajay Devgn's nephew, Aaman Devgan, and Raveena Tandon's daughter, Rasha Thadani. Recently, actor Siddharth Nigam, who has predominantly worked in television, revealed that he was initially considered for the lead role in Azaad but was eventually replaced by Aaman. He also shared how he was not informed about the change in casting. Speaking to Instant Bollywood, Siddharth's mother, Vibha Nigam, recalled the process. 'I took him along for the meeting. The entire script was narrated, and we waited for a year. I was happy because the film was good, and Siddharth would have had a strong launch in Bollywood. I really loved the script.' Vibha shared that even after waiting for a year, they were caught off guard when they came across Azaad's poster featuring Aaman. She said, 'But suddenly, after two years, Siddharth showed me the poster of Azaad and said, 'Mum, this has been released, and these are the people in the film.' Then we saw that the film starred Ajay Devgn's nephew and Rasha. For the first time in my life, I felt bad. When things like this happen, as a mother, it hurts. Then I realised both of them were star kids, and that made all the difference,' she added. Siddharth admitted that he had pinned his hopes on the project but also acknowledged the nature of the film business. He said, 'There's no one to blame. This is the business industry, so there's no point in asking why they did it — they must have had their own reasons. It's more of a personal realisation and pain. You get your hopes up thinking something might work out. We wait for an entire year, and then we see the teaser. So after watching it, we just thought, 'Oh, okay. Let's move on.'' Azad was a massive flop at the box office. However, Rasha received widespread acclaim for her dance performance in the song 'Uyi Amma.' The film also starred Ajay Devgn and Diana Penty in key roles.
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First Post
17 hours ago
- Business
- First Post
Not Ajay Devgn's nephew Aaman, this Salman Khan co-star was to debut in 'Azaad,' actor's mother reveals shocking details: 'For the first time in my life, I felt bad'
Produced by Ronnie Screwvala and Pragya Kapoor, this cinematic journey promised an intense tale of love and loyalty. But it failed at the box-office. read more Abhishek Kapoor's Azaad marked the debut of Aaman Devgan and Rasha Thadani, alongside Ajay Devgn and Diana Penty. Produced by Ronnie Screwvala and Pragya Kapoor, this cinematic journey promised an intense tale of love and loyalty. But it failed at the box-office. Dhoom 3 and Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan actor Siddharth Nigam's mother has now revealed shocking details about how her son was supposed to be a part of it. 'I took him along for the meeting. The entire script was narrated, and we waited for a year. I was happy because the film was good, and Siddharth would have had a strong launch in Bollywood. I really loved the script. But suddenly, after two years, Siddharth showed me the poster of Azaad,' she revealed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD She added, 'He said, 'Mum, this has been released, and these are the people in the film.' Then we saw that the film starred Ajay Devgn's nephew and Rasha. For the first time in my life, I felt bad. When things like this happen, as a mother, it hurts. Then I realised both of them were star kids, and that made all the difference.' Nigam's mother continued, 'There's no one to blame. This is the business industry, so there's no point in asking why they did it — they must have had their own reasons. It's more of a personal realisation and pain. You get your hopes up thinking something might work out. We wait for an entire year, and then we see the teaser. So after watching it, we just thought, 'Oh, okay. Let's move on.'
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Aced audition, kept two years in waiting': TV star Siddharth Nigam's mom shares how actor was ditched for star kids for debut film
Siddharth Nigam has steadily risen through the ranks in the Indian entertainment world, earning widespread recognition for his work in Hindi television . He captivated audiences with his memorable performances in shows such as Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat, Chandra Nandini, and Aladdin – Naam Toh Suna Hoga. His impressive screen presence and strong acting skills earned him a notable role in Bollywood at a young age when he portrayed the younger version of Aamir Khan's character in Dhoom 3 , marking an impactful debut in mainstream cinema. A Golden Opportunity That Slipped Away Years later, Siddharth appeared to be on the brink of a major breakthrough when he was shortlisted to play a leading role in the 2025 film Azaad. This project, starring Ajay Devgn and Diana Penty, was also meant to launch new faces like Aaman Devgn, the nephew of Ajay Devgn, and Rasha Thadani, daughter of actress Raveena Tandon. In an interview with Instant Bollywood, Siddharth's mother later revealed how emotionally invested the family was in this opportunity. She had accompanied her son to initial meetings, during which the full script of the film was read out to them. They patiently waited for updates, believing this film could be a powerful platform for Siddharth's Bollywood launch. A Mother's Painful Memory However, their hopes were shattered when, after two years of silence, Siddharth discovered that Azaad had been released — but with different lead actors. The film, which hit theatres in January 2025, had gone ahead with Aaman and Rasha instead. Siddharth's mother admitted that this turn of events caused her deep sorrow. Seeing her son replaced was painful, especially after dedicating so much time and emotional investment into what seemed like a career-defining opportunity. It was then that she realised the weight carried by star lineage in the film industry and how it often determined who got the final nod. "After two years, Siddharth showed me the poster of Azaad and said, 'Mum, this has been released, and these are the people in the film.' Then we saw that the film starred Ajay Devgn's nephew and Rasha. For the first time in my life, I felt bad. When things like this happen, as a mother, it hurts. Then I realised both of them were star kids, and that made all the difference," she told the channel. Siddharth's Calm Acceptance and Growth While the experience was undoubtedly heartbreaking, Siddharth responded with a mature outlook. Rather than assigning blame, he viewed the situation as part of the professional landscape. He acknowledged that such incidents are common in show business and that decisions are often based on factors beyond talent alone. Although he initially felt crushed, he eventually made peace with the outcome, choosing not to dwell on the loss. Instead, he used the incident as a learning experience, accepting the industry's unpredictability and resolving to stay focused on the journey ahead. A Humble Beginning With Yash Raj Films In a separate conversation, Siddharth reminisced about the moment he was selected for Dhoom 3. The call came from casting director Shanoo Sharma, who worked with Yash Raj Films. At that time, Siddharth and his family had little knowledge of Mumbai's film world and were hesitant about moving forward. Coming from a non-industry background, they even wondered if the casting call was genuine. Siddharth joked about how he feared being tricked, referencing crime-based TV shows that shaped his perceptions of unfamiliar cities. Through these experiences, Siddharth Nigam's journey reflects the emotional highs and lows faced by outsiders in the industry — a story of talent, resilience, and quiet determination.
India Today
a day ago
- Business
- India Today
Siddharth Nigam on being replaced by Aaman Devgan in Azaad: Waited an entire year
Actor Siddharth Nigam's mother, Vibha Nigam, recently recalled how her son was replaced by Aaman Devgan in 'Azaad' after auditioning for the film. She said that as a mother, she was hurt upon learning about Ajay Devgn's nephew being cast in the period drama. Siddharth and Vibha reflected on the unpredictable nature of the entertainment speaking about Siddharth's audition for 'Azaad,' Vibha, in an interview with Instant Bollywood, said, "I took him along for the meeting. The entire script was narrated, and we waited for a year. I was happy because the film was good, and Siddharth would have had a strong launch in Bollywood. I really loved the script."advertisement"But suddenly, after two years, Siddharth showed me the poster of 'Azaad' and said, 'Mum, this has been released, and these are the people in the film.' Then we saw that the film starred Ajay Devgn's nephew and Rasha. For the first time in my life, I felt bad. When things like this happen, as a mother, it hurts. Then I realised both of them were star kids, and that made all the difference," she added. Siddharth, however, stated that he doesn't want to blame anyone, as such is the nature of business in the film industry. He said, "There's no one to blame. This is the business industry, so there's no point in asking why they did it — they must have had their own reasons. It's more of a personal realisation and pain. You get your hopes up thinking something might work out. We wait for an entire year, and then we see the teaser. So after watching it, we just thought, 'Oh, okay. Let's move on.'"advertisementApart from Aaman, 'Azaad' featured Raveena Tandon's daughter Rasha Thadani, who also made her film debut. The period action drama was directed by Abhishek Kapoor and co-produced by Ronnie Screwvala and Pragya Kapoor.'Azaad' released in theatres on January 17, Watch
