On Hrithik Roshan's birthday, we look back at 5 iconic roles that Duggu turned down, including Swades and Dil Chahta Hai.
1. Dil Chahta Hai: Farhan Akhtar told me he wanted Hrithik for the role that Saif Ali Khan played. But Hrithik wanted to play Aamir’s role. So, in spite of being very close to Farhan and Zoya he said no to a film that went on to break the glass ceiling. Hrithik was eventually directed by Farhan in the war saga Lakshya.
2. Hamlet: This was just after the rage that was Kaho Na Pyar Hai. Hrithik was offered a chance to play Shakespeare’s most complex tragic hero. Hrithik’s international career could have started 20 years ago when Tarsem Singh offered him a chance to Shakespeare’s Hamlet in a desi avatar. The project was to be titled, Aditya. However, Hrithik thought he was too new to the game to try anything that ambitious.He wanted to concentrate on his desi career. Smart!
3: Swades: Before Ashutosh Gowariker took this epic project to Shah Rukh Khan he offered it to Hrithik who said he just couldn’t relate to the script. This is considered SRK’s finest by many. Ashutosh and Hrithik finally worked together in Jodhaa Akbar and Mohenjo Daro.
4.Bajirao Mastani: Many think Hrithik’s performance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Guzaarish to be his finest. They’ve been desirous of teaming up together ever since. Sanjay Bhansali did offer Bajirao Mastani to Hrithik.Why did the actor say no? Well, apparently he felt the role was similar to Jodhaa Akbar.
5. Thugs Of Hindostan: The entire project was planned with Hrithik Roshan. He sat over many discussions and sittings with Aditya Chopra for Thugs Of Hindostan. However the script, as it was shaping up, played the villain. Hrithik was not as happy with it. He suggested to Adi that they work on the script for some time more, as the script did not justify the Rs 160-crore budget. Adi agreed with Hrithik. He told Hrithik the script will be further developed before Hrithik is contacted. Hrithik told Adi to take his time. Whether two months one year, he will do the film whenever the script is ready. Apparently soon after this, director Victor Acharya met Aamir Khan. The two had worked together in Dhoom 3. Victor narrated the subject to Aamir and he loved it, as it was…no changes required. Victor grabbed the chance to work with Aamir again.
image source: instagram/hrithikroshan
image source: instagram/hrithikroshan