Adi Irani, known for Baazigar, shared his disappointment about losing a role in Dil Dhadakne Do to Parmeet Sethi. In an interview, he claimed Zoya Akhtar prefers working with friends and mentioned she auditioned him before ultimately casting Parmeet.
Released in 2015, Dil Dhadakne Do featured Anil Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh, Farhan Akhtar, and Shefali Shah. In an interview with Filmytantra Media, Adi revealed that he was firm about playing a role with impactful scenes rather than just screen presence. He conveyed to Zoya Akhtar that he prioritized quality over quantity in his character.
While filming Welcome Back, Adi Irani learned that Zoya Akhtar had cast Parmeet Sethi for the role he had auditioned for in Dil Dhadakne Do, but he was not informed about the change. Anil Kapoor even checked with him about finalizing the role. Later, during a second audition, Irani was given lines for a different character, confirming that he was no longer considered for his original part.
When asked if he was left to speculate, Adi Irani agreed. He felt the situation was handled unprofessionally but acknowledged that informing an actor about being replaced is difficult. According to him, the industry values diplomacy over honesty, making it rare for people to be frank about such decisions.
Irani expressed his disappointment with the industry, stating that directors and producers today focus solely on making money, while films lack the emotional depth they once had.
