Farah Khan's directorial debut, the 2004 hit "Main Hoon Na," had a casting twist when Ayesha Takia, initially cast as Sanjana Bakshi, left the project shortly before filming. In a recent vlog filmed at Amrita Rao's residence, Farah Khan revealed that Takia's departure threw the production into a panic, as sets in Darjeeling were booked and preparations were well underway. Takia exited "Main Hoon Na" to work on Imtiaz Ali's "Socha Na Tha".

With the shoot date fast approaching, Farah Khan was in a bind. That's when Gauri Khan, the film's producer, stepped in with a suggestion: Amrita Rao. Farah was initially hesitant as Amrita didn't seem to fit the character of Sanjana, who was envisioned as a goth, rebellious girl. When they first met, Rao was wearing a simple kurta and jeans, which didn't align with Farah's vision.

Despite her initial reservations, Farah Khan decided to give Amrita Rao a screen test, focusing on an emotional scene where Sanjana breaks down. Looking at Rao through the camera lens, Farah was struck by her transformation. She saw a completely different, almost magical quality in Amrita, reminding her of Sridevi's captivating screen presence.

Amrita Rao ultimately landed the role of Sanjana, starring opposite Zayed Khan. "Main Hoon Na," also starring Shah Rukh Khan and Sushmita Sen, became a major commercial success, grossing ₹70.40 crore worldwide against a budget of ₹25 crore. Meanwhile, "Socha Na Tha," which Ayesha Takia chose instead, didn't fare well at the box office.

Farah Khan's "Main Hoon Na" marked her debut as a director and was produced by Gauri Khan and Ratan Jain. The film featured a star-studded cast, including Shah Rukh Khan, Sushmita Sen, Suniel Shetty, Amrita Rao, Zayed Khan, and more. Amrita Rao was last seen in "Jolly LLB 3", which was released in 2025.