DID YOU KNOW? Salman Khan Was The First Choice To Play The Lead In Aamir Khan's Blockbuster Hit Ghajini? - DEETS INSIDE
Salman Khan was the first choice to play the protagonist in Ghajini and not Aamir Khan, actor Pradeep Rawat reveals, read to know the full story below
Aamir Khan's 2008 film Ghajini, directed and co-written by AR Murugadoss, achieved monumental success by becoming the highest-grossing Indian film of the year. It set a significant milestone as the first Bollywood film to surpass the Rs 100 crore mark domestically, thus inaugurating the prestigious 100 Crore Club. The film featured Pradeep Rawat as the antagonist, who recently shared intriguing details about the casting process during an interview with Siddharth Kannan. ALSO READ: Aamir Khan-Rajkumar Hirani’s 3 Idiots Still Remain Topic Of Discussion! Google CEO Sundar Pichai Made A Notable Reference From The Film – WATCH
Pradeep revealed that Murugadoss initially considered Salman Khan for the lead role in the Hindi remake of his successful Tamil film. Murugadoss admired Salman and was keen on having him as the protagonist. However, Pradeep harbored doubts about this decision. He expressed concerns about Salman's reputed short temper, fearing it might lead to complications during the production. Furthermore, Pradeep was apprehensive about the potential communication barrier, given that Murugadoss did not speak English or Hindi fluently. He articulated his thoughts, stating, "I thought in my mind, 'Salman is short-tempered and Murugadoss doesn't speak English or Hindi. He didn't even have a personality.'" ALSO READ: Sarfarosh 2: Aamir Khan Announces Sequel At Sarfarosh's Screening As Movie Completes 25 Years! Actor Says, 'We Will Definitely Give It A Serious Shot'
Reflecting on his past experiences, Pradeep believed Aamir Khan was a better fit for the role. He praised Aamir's calm and respectful demeanor, traits he had observed while working with him on previous projects like Sarfarosh. According to Pradeep, Aamir's composed nature made him a more suitable choice for the demanding role in Ghajini. He shared, "I thought Aamir would be the right choice for the role because he was cool-tempered and behaves respectfully with everyone. In the past 25 years, I have not seen Aamir shout or yell at anyone. He has never disrespected anyone or used abusive language. So I thought, nature-wise, Salman cannot be handled or there would be unnecessary complications."
#PradeepRawat, who played the villain in both Hindi and Tamil versions of the movie 🎬, recently sat in conversation 🗣️ with #siddharthkannan and revealed that #ARMurugadoss initially wanted Salman Khan 🌟 in #Ghajini. 🎥 The only reason for this was because the filmmaker was ½ pic.twitter.com/2xrxGEdbIL
— bollywood Apna (@Bollywood_Apna) May 20, 2024
Despite Pradeep's reservations, Murugadoss was persistent in pursuing Aamir Khan for the role, dedicating six months to convincing him. Eventually, Aamir watched the original Tamil film and agreed to participate in the Hindi remake. The Hindi version of Ghajini starred Aamir Khan and Asin in the lead roles and was a massive hit. The film's gripping storyline, combined with stellar performances, received widespread acclaim from both audiences and critics. The original Tamil movie featured Suriya, Asin, and Nayanthara.
Pradeep also highlighted an interesting aspect of Aamir's character, noting that his intelligence and dedication significantly contributed to the film's success. He remarked, "Aamir sharif hai but chalak bohot hai. Bohot hoshiyaar hai (Aamir may be innocent, but he is very clever and intelligent)." This cleverness, coupled with his commitment, played a crucial role in making Ghajini a blockbuster. Despite the six months of persistent persuasion, Aamir's decision to join the film after watching the Tamil version proved to be a pivotal moment for the project.
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