Filmmaker and choreographer Farah Khan has revealed that Sameera Reddy was originally her first choice for the role that was eventually played by Sushmita Sen in Main Hoon Na. Farah shared that she first noticed Reddy in the music video Ahista Kijiye Baatein and was immediately struck by her screen presence. She recalled thinking that Reddy's look in traditional Indian attire aligned perfectly with how she had envisioned the character of Chandni, the graceful college professor who becomes the romantic interest in the film.