Main Hoon Na Trivia: Farah Khan On Approaching Shah Rukh Khan & Why Hrithik Roshan Opted Out
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Fans have been craving to watch Shah Rukh Khan on the silver screen after his 2018 debacle, ZERO. But in these tough times of the lockdown, when films are our only major escape, Main Hoon Na remains one of the most-watched films on digital platforms. Recently, as the film completed its 16 years of release, we bring to you some interesting trivia around the film and its characters. What’s more is that all of this comes straight from the horse’s mouth, Farah Khan.
Main Hoon Na marked the directorial debut of choreographer turned director, Farah Khan. While the film was under a constant hype owing to Shah Rukh Khan, it was also the powerful supporting cast that gave the film its final push.
Now, in this interview to acclaimed film critic Rajeev Masand for his show Parde K Peeche, Farah Khan has revealed some jaw-dropping fact on how the film’s cast fell in place and why despite finding Zayed Khan terrible, she got him on board to play one of the most memorable characters of Indian cinema, Lucky aka Laxman Prasad Sharma.
Farah revealed that she had offered Main Hoon Na to Shah Rukh Khan back in 2000, during the shoot of Mohabbatein, i.e four years before the original shoot date of the film. Opening up on the actor’s reaction, Farah said, “It’s too long. Cut it’. He also added, ‘It’s very good and I’ll produce it’.”
But what has got our ears perked up is when Farah Khan revealed that Zayed Khan was NOT the first choice for Lucky. She had in fact offered the role to Hrithik Roshan, but since Kaho Na Pyaar Hai’s success shot right through the roof, Roshan decided against doing a two-hero film. What’s more is that Farah also confessed to approaching Farhan Akhtar, Sohail Khan and Abhishek Bachchan for the part.
Farah Khan further said, “We didn’t have anyone for Laxman’s role literally a month before the shoot. We couldn’t push the film’s schedule as we had to shoot the film in December because that was the month when the school was allotted to us. That’s when I saw Chura Liya Hai Tumne, which had Zayed Khan and Esha Deol. Shirish Kunder was its editor. He showed me its rushes and it was terrible! But there was something endearing about him. His smile and persona had that goofiness which I needed. So when Hrithik was doing it, the character of Laxman was very macho with muscles. Probably, how he was in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. But when Zayed Khan came on board, I made him this overconfident, goofy chap and I think it worked in the movie.”
Well, whatever be the reasons, we can’t imagine anyone else as Major Ram Prasad Sharma (SRK) or Lucky (Zayed Khan) in Main Hoon Na anymore. Directed by Farah Khan, the film released on the 30th of April 2004 and was a huge hit both critically as we all commercially.
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