From Nushrratt Bharuccha to Ileana D'Cruz: Why Bollywood Heroines Get Replaced in the Sequels
Bollywood's penchant for retaining its male heroes in sequels—while readily recasting their female counterparts—stems from a complex interplay of narrative design, franchise positioning, star dynamics and practical constraints. Sequels pitched as thematic 'franchises' rather than direct continuations often bring in fresh heroines to signal a new chapter, as seen when
Nushrratt Bharuccha
was replaced by
Ananya Panday
in Dream Girl 2 to suit an 'organic' storyline shift. Lead actresses also bow out due to legacy concerns: Vidya Balan declined Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 for fear of tarnishing her original performance, prompting Tabu's entry. Scheduling conflicts, injuries and strategic marketing likewise drive recasting—Kajal Aggarwal stepped away from Singham Returns amidst South commitments and was replaced by Kareena Kapoor Khan. While some directors simply envision new dynamics, as in Ishqiya to Dedh Ishqiya, where Madhuri Dixit succeeded Vidya Balan because "Vidya's character had no further scope." Collectively, these shifts reveal Bollywood's male-centric framing, creative reinvention strategies, and the high stakes of maintaining box-office and brand appeal.
Adding to the conversation, actress Shreya Gupto offered a candid perspective on the commercial nature of casting decisions. She said, "I think female leads are more often replaced in sequels based on who is currently trending in the market. There's a lot of business thought put into it. Having said that, I can never imagine Shraddha Kapoor being replaced in three films—I don't think that is going to happen because she probably fills the theatre. So I guess it has a lot to do with business and who is currently trending in the market. However, it is really sad that more often we have seen women getting replaced."
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Notable Instances of Actress Replacements in
Bollywood Sequels
:
Dream Girl - Dream Girl 2
Replaced
: Nushrratt Bharuccha
Replacement
: Ananya Panday
Reason
: Director Raaj Shaandilyaa and actor Ayushmann Khurrana described the sequel as an 'organic' progression with a distinct storyline, necessitating a new female lead. Ananya was chosen for her vibrant personality and ability to master the Mathura accent. Nushrratt expressed her disappointment, stating, "Of course it feels unfair," but acknowledged the makers' decision.
Raid - Raid 2
Replaced
: Ileana D'Cruz
Replacement
:
Vaani Kapoor
Reason
: At the trailer launch,
Ajay Devgn
shrugged off concerns saying, 'It's the character you follow, and then new people keep coming in'. Vaani echoed that stance, clarifying 'No jealousy with the previous one…You just try to play your part in the most authentic manner."
Satyameva Jayate - Satyameva Jayate 2
Replaced
: Aisha Sharma
Replacement
: Divya Khosla Kumar
Reason
: The sequel featured a new storyline with John Abraham in a triple role, and Divya Khosla Kumar was cast as the female lead. Specific reasons for Aisha Sharma's replacement were not publicly disclosed.
Baaghi Series
Baaghi
(2016): Shraddha Kapoor
Baaghi
2
(2018): Disha Patani
Baaghi
3
(2020): Shraddha Kapoor
Reason
: The Baaghi series follows different storylines in each installment. Disha Patani was initially considered for the first film but was replaced by Shraddha Kapoor. She was later cast in Baaghi 2. The casting changes align with the anthology nature of the series.
Son of Sardaar (2012) - Son of Sardaar 2 (Upcoming)
Replaced
: Sonakshi Sinha
Replacement
: Reportedly Mrunal Thakur
Reason
: Details regarding the casting change have not been officially confirmed.
Yamla Pagla Deewana Series
Yamla Pagla Deewana
(2011): Kulraj Randhawa
Yamla Pagla Deewana 2
(2013): Neha Sharma
Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir Se
(2018): Kriti Kharbanda
Reason
: Each installment featured a different storyline, leading to new female leads in each film.
Golmaal Series
Golmaal
(2006): Rimi Sen
Golmaal Returns
(2008): Kareena Kapoor
Golmaal 3
(2010): Kareena Kapoor
Golmaal Again
(2017): Parineeti Chopra
Reason
: The series introduced new female characters in each installment, aligning with the evolving storylines.
Singh Is King (2008) → Singh Is Bliing (2015)
Replaced
: Katrina Kaif
Replacement
: Amy Jackson
Reason
: Singh Is Bliing was not a direct sequel but a standalone film with a different storyline, leading to a new female lead.
Jannat (2008) → Jannat 2 (2012)
Replaced
: Sonal Chauhan
Replacement
: Esha Gupta
Reason
: Jannat 2 featured a new narrative, and Esha Gupta was cast as the female lead.
Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003) → Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006)
Replaced
: Gracy Singh
Replacement
: Vidya Balan
Reason
: The sequel presented a different storyline with new characters, leading to a change in the female lead.
Singham Series
Singham
(2011):
Kajal Aggarwal
Singham Returns
(2014): Kareena Kapoor
Singham Again
(2024): Kareena Kapoor and Deepika Padukone
Reason
: Kajal Aggarwal was replaced due to her commitments in South Indian cinema. Kareena Kapoor returned in the subsequent sequels, with Deepika Padukone joining in the latest installment.
Commando Series
Commando
(2013): Pooja Chopra
Commando 2
(2017): Adah Sharma
Commando 3
(2019): Adah Sharma
Reason
: The sequels introduced new storylines, with Adah Sharma taking over as the female lead from the second installment onward.
Replaced
: Tabu
Replacement
: Rimi Sen
Reason
: The sequel introduced new characters and storylines, resulting in a change in the female lead.
This lack of clear explanation can be frustrating for fans—but is it necessary? Gupto shared her thoughts on whether audiences are owed transparency. "As far as the audience is concerned, I don't think the makers are liable to explain their decisions. Even when they do speak, I think they've been offering convincing answers so far. But audiences are extremely sharp these days; we have common sense to figure out why somebody would be replaced, and we don't believe news blindly," she added.
Franchise Sequels Invite Fresh Faces
When a follow-up is positioned as a thematic or spiritual franchise rather than a narrative continuation, filmmakers feel freer to recast female leads. In Dream Girl 2, director Raaj Shaandilyaa and star Ayushmann Khurrana described the film as a new story within the brand, resulting in Ananya Panday replacing Nushrratt Bharuccha to inject fresh energy and a Mathura dialect twist. Nushrratt later admitted the change 'hurts' and called the 'franchise' justification insufficient, noting even male co-stars would find it unfair.
Anthology-Style Series
The Baaghi and Housefull franchises exemplify anthology approaches. Baaghi 2 introduced Disha Patani in place of Shraddha Kapoor to match its distinct plotline, only for Shraddha to return in Baaghi 3 alongside Tiger Shroff's evolving character arc . Similarly, each Housefull film features a new ensemble heroine—Deepika Padukone to Kriti Sanon to Pooja Hegde—underscoring narrative resets over continuity .
Heroes as Brand Anchors
Blockbuster stars like Ajay Devgn in Raid and Saif Ali Khan in Race serve as the franchise anchors, while heroines rotate around them. In Raid 2, Devgn returns as Amay Patnaik but Ileana D'Cruz makes way for Vaani Kapoor without public explanation—reinforcing that the male role defines the sequel's brand . Likewise, Race 2 retained Khan but replaced both Bipasha Basu and Katrina Kaif, citing new story demands and scheduling conflicts, before embracing fresh pairings with Deepika Padukone and Jacqueline Fernandez
Perceived Interchangeability
Actresses themselves have called out this pattern. Nushrratt Bharuccha highlighted how 'only the girl changes' in sequels, while the male cast remains intact—a dynamic she described as 'not cool'. This interchangeability often fuels debates on gender bias in star billing and franchise valuation.
Star Power for Box-Office Pull
Producers often refresh franchises by tapping current marketable faces. Casting Ananya Panday (a star kid) in Dream Girl 2 and Mrunal Thakur in Son of Sardaar 2 (replacing Sonakshi Sinha) reflects an industry trend favoring bankable newcomers or established film-family names to maximize hype .
For rising stars like Gupto, the franchise game is a dream—but not without its dilemmas. "I would love to be part of a successful franchise—look at the Stree, Drishyam, Dhoom or Golmaal series. These films create worlds that endure, and as an actor, I would absolutely love to be part of such a franchise. However, I would be very upset if I were replaced in the next sequel. To begin with, though, I would be extremely grateful for the opportunity," Shreya concluded.
As Bollywood continues to expand its franchise playbook—across theatrical releases and OTT series—the recurring practice of replacing actresses in sequels offers a revealing window into creative priorities, commercial calculations and the often unequal valuation of star power. Understanding these forces not only enriches our appreciation of the films themselves but also prompts reflection on how gender, narrative form and business strategy intersect in India's film capital.
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