Ameesha Patel revealed that she had screen-tested for Lagaan and was selected, adding, "I had also allotted dates for...film." "When I was shooting for Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, my manager called me and said...I'm being released from Lagaan because [director] Ashutosh ji felt that for...village girl role, my eyes looked too educated, and I'm also extremely fair-skinned," Ameesha stated.