Anil Kapoor Was Offered Baazigar Before Shah Rukh Khan. (Photo Credit – Youtube/Instagram)
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Baazigar is considered one of Shah Rukh Khan’s best movies and performances. At the beginning of his career, the actor agreed to do a negative role, which many big stars avoid doing even now. The Abbas-Mustan directorial also stars Kajol and Shilpa Shetty. The romantic thriller is based on the Hollywood film, A Kiss Before Dying (1991). But did you know that Anil Kapoor was the first choice to play Ajay Sharma/ Vicky Malhotra?
Yes, you read it right! Abbas-Mustan wanted the Fighter actor to play the main lead in their 1993 directorial. They even discussed the project with Kapoor, who rejected it, saying it’s too “risky”. The director duo revealed the same to Komal Nahta in the past.
In an old interview, the Baazigar directors said, “When we were ready with the story of Baazigar, we first went to Anil Kapoor. He was shooting for Roop Ki Rani Choro Ki Raja, and he said this subject was too risky. He said it’s good, but I won’t do it, and he refused politely.” The team even offered the movie to Salman Khan, who also rejected it, saying the character was too dark for him to play.
So, how did Shah Rukh Khan come on board? The director duo liked the superstar’s performance in Deewana, and one day; they ran into SRK at the Venus Films’ office. SRK praised their film Khidali and expressed his interest in working with them. That’s how Abbas-Mustan got Shah Rukh on board.
Baazigar, released in 1993 and received rave reviews, was a box office hit. It was the fourth highest-grossing Indian film of that year. Today, no one can imagine anyone else playing Vicky and Ajay with the same intensity and wickedness as SRK. In an interview, Shah Rukh revealed that when he did Baazigar, many people, including his well-wishers, told him his career was over. However, 30 years later, he’s ruling the hearts of every generation.
Meanwhile, the film has been re-released in a few theatres in India. The movie is available to watch in Cinepolis theatres to celebrate the Retro Film Festival. SRK himself shared the update on his Instagram: “Flashback to a time when magic unfolded on the silver screen! Inviting you to relive those moments at our Retro Film Festival with the iconic Bollywood classic – “Baazigar.” As someone who had the privilege to bring this magic to life, I’m thrilled to join you in this nostalgic journey. Let’s celebrate the timeless era of Bollywood together!”
Do you think any other actor would’ve been a better choice to star in Baazigar?
