In the early 1990s, before she was crowned Miss World and became a Bollywood icon, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan appeared in a Pepsi commercial that would catapult her to fame. The 1993 advertisement, also featuring Aamir Khan and Mahima Chaudhary, is a nostalgic piece of pop culture history. However, what many may not know is that Shah Rukh Khan was initially considered for the role that Aamir Khan eventually played in the ad.
The Pepsi commercial features Aamir Khan playing chess alone at home when Mahima Chaudhary, his beautiful neighbor, rings his doorbell and asks him for a bottle of Pepsi. Eager to impress her, Aamir braves the rain and goes to great lengths to get her the beverage. Upon his return, Mahima informs him that the Pepsi is actually for "Sanju," at which point Aishwarya Rai appears, delivering the line, "Hi, I'm Sanjana. Got another Pepsi?".
While it's unclear exactly why Shah Rukh Khan missed out on the Pepsi commercial, the advertisement proved to be a significant milestone for Aishwarya Rai. Her brief appearance and simple dialogue made her an overnight sensation, with many people even naming their daughters "Sanjana" after her character in the ad.
The commercial's popularity led to some questioning the fairness of Aishwarya Rai's participation in the Miss India pageant in 1994. Having already gained considerable fame through the Pepsi ad, some felt she had an unfair advantage over the other contestants. Sushmita Sen even considered withdrawing her application upon learning that Aishwarya Rai was participating. Ultimately, Aishwarya Rai's parents encouraged her to compete, and she went on to win the Miss India World title, placing second to Sushmita Sen.
The 1993 Pepsi commercial remains a memorable moment in Indian advertising history, not only for its star-studded cast but also for its role in launching Aishwarya Rai's career. While Shah Rukh Khan's absence from the ad is a matter of speculation, the commercial cemented Aishwarya Rai's status as a rising star and helped pave the way for her success in the entertainment industry.
