When the film was getting cast, while the older set of actors confirmed agreements easily, Yash Chopra had a tough time convincing Rishi Kapoor for the role. He declined the role outright, saying he wasn’t willing to play second fiddle to senior heroes. There was no other big star in Rishi Kapoor generation to suit the part and Chopra was seriously worried. He pleaded Shashi Kapoor to influence his nephew and Kapoor promised to bring Rishi on the sets and he did.
Before the long outdoor in Kashmir, there was a short schedule in Mumbai to make the team comfortable and Shashi Kapoor reported for his shoot accompanied by a sulking Rishi. The young actor was literally bullied into shooting a scene by the older men. Rishi was flying out of the country next morning for a month and determined to not return to Kabhi Kabhie sets for sure.
To be continued