Shahrukh Khan wanted Aishwarya Rai to be cast in the role of Kaurwaki. However, the director, Santosh Sivan, wanted to cast an actress whom he hadn't already been paired with in a leading role. Shahrukh also recommended Sushmita Sen to play the singing dancer in the bar.
References
Cimarron (1931)
Rurôni Kenshin: Meiji kenkaku roman tan: Tsuioku hen (1999) (V)
Gladiator (2000)
Wo hu cang long (2000)
The Patriot (2000)