In continuation of my last weekend post about the roles refused by actors in Bollywood films, and later the same films becoming very successful . Here in the list are few more incidents:
1 When director Raj Kumar Hirani along with producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra approached Shah Rukh Khan for the role of Munnabhai in the film Munaabhai MBBS, Shah Rukh did not find that role interesting and refused that role. Then the producer/director combine approached Sanjay Dutt and rest is history. The character of Munnabhai became iconic in the history of Bollywood.
2 When Producer/Director Aushotosh Gowarikar approached Hrithik Roshan for 2004 released film Swades, he turned down the role saying that there is nothing interesting about this role. Then Shah Rukh Khan was approached and may be Shah Rukh remembered turning down the role in Lagaan by same director so this time better sense prevailed and Shah Rukh accepted the role. This role became one his best roles of the career and he was really appreciated for this role and won many awards.
3 Kareena Kapoor in the beginning of her career had worked with Karan Johar in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham and she was very much appreciated in her short role. When Karan Johar offered her role of main lead in his next film she turned down that role because Karan Johar did not agree to give the fees she demanded, Karan then offered the same role to Priety Zinta who accepted the same.The role turned out to be land mark role in her career and she won many awards for the same.
4 You remember the film called ‘Darr’, which was one of film of Shah Rukh Khan in the early stages of his career and which gave the boost to his career. But initially the role was offered to Aamir Khan, as it was two hero film Aamir insisted the director Yash Chopra narrate his script in the joint meeting with other hero Sunny Deol, but Yash Chopra dilly dallied and in the end Aamir did not do the film, although he had liked the role. Later Shah Rukh Khan was roped in, and film became super hit and gave the boost to Shah Rukh’s career after Baazigar, but the other hero Sunny Deol was left fuming with the film in released version, as what script he was narrated was not matching with final product. Sunny Deol never worked again with Yash Chopra, Aamir Khan worked with Yash Chopra films on his terms, but both the films Fanna and Dhoom 3 were not directed by Yash Chopra.
5 Juhi Chawla who had worked with Yash Chopra earlier, but when she was offered the role of Nisha in ‘Dil To Paagal Hai’, she refused the role because the role was not of main lead, which was being done by Madhuri Dixit. The role was accepted by Karishma Kapoor, and the rest is history. Her acting was very much appreciated in supporting role, and she won many awards for this role including National Award for best supporting actor (female).
6 In 2001 a film called ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ which became youth iconic film and which established Farhan Akhtar as director, it was story of 3 friends, and the roles were enacted by Aamir Khan , Akshaye Khanna and Saif Ali Khan. The role of Akash which was performed by Aamir Khan was first offered to Hrithik Roshan, whose debut film released Jan 2000 was a super duper hit and he had become icon of youth, but he refused the role, and then the role was offered to Aamir Khan, who at that time had just finished shooting for film Lagaan.
7 Most of us must have seen Bahubali 1 & 2, and you will realise the importance of the character Sivagami Devi played by Ramya Krishnan. But do you know that she was not the first choice of director Rajamouli for this role. He wanted late Sridevi to play this role, which eventually did not happen as reportedly, the producers could not offer her the remuneration she had asked. Following this the role went to Ramya and as they say rest is history.
8 Vidya Balan earned many accolades and also national award for her role as Silk smitha in ‘The Dirty Picture’. but many are not aware that Kangana Ranaut was first choice for this role. Her reason for refusal was that after doing role in film called ‘Fashion’, she was not prepared for doing similar kind of role again.
9 Salman Khan was first approached for the role of kabir Khan in ‘Chak De India’, and he refused the same. The role then was offered to Shah Rukh Khan, glad he accepted this role because this turned out be his performance till date, and now you can not imagine Salman in that role.
10 The role of police inspector Vijay was offered to many actors and all of them refused the roles or wanted to change the character. Prominent among who were offered this roles were Dev Anand, Raaj Kumar and even Dilip Kumar. But in the end role went to Amitabh Bachchan, and this role and his performance gave the fillip to his struggling career and after this role Amitabh never looked back. This role gave him the image of ‘Angry Young Man’.
There are many films which were offered to one actor first and after the refusal the role was performed by some other actor. But few roles in the end become iconic, and in my last weekend and today’s blog I have only mentioned about the roles which became so popular that in the end they were called iconic role.
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Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
31st Jan 2020