Happy Birthday Shah Rukh Khan: Padmaavat To 3 Idiots, Notable Films Shah Rukh Khan Said No To
As the King of hearts, Shah Rukh Khan celebrates his 55th Birthday, we look back at films he said NO to - from Munnabhai MBBS to Padmaavat - it's a heavy duty list.
Shah Rukh Khan, the eternal King of Romance, turns 55 today. The superstar who is loved by millions of fans across the globe is a legend of sorts. While he has been part of some of the biggest and most-loved films in Bollywood, there are some projects he turned down, and we bet you didn't know about these.
Firstly, Munnabhai MBBS: Producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra was very keen that Shah Rukh play Munnabhai while Vivek Oberoi was to play his friend Circuit. Shah Rukh didn’t feel comfortable with the role and character. Eventually Sanjay Dutt stepped in. And with him came Arshad Warsi.
Secondly, Padmaavat - directed by Sanjay Bhansali went to Shah Rukh Khan with the offer to play the villain Aalluddin Khilji. But Shah Rukh was apparently not okay with doing a film where the leading had the author-backed role. Also he is off negative roles.
Thirdly, Lagaan - Perhaps the single-most important film of Aamir Khan’s career had gone to Shah Rukh first. But Shah Rukh had a problem seeing himself in a dhoti. In fact he almost said no to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas for the same reason.
Fourthly, 3 Idiots: Again Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s first choice was Shah Rukh Khan. But King Khan couldn’t give the dates that Vinod Chopra wanted. Significantly this was the second big Raj Kumar Hirani film produced by Chopra, to be rejected by Shah Rukh. Finally SRK is working with Hirani and this time Hirani himself will serve as producer.
And Ek Tha Tiger: Why did Shah Rukh say no to Kabir Khan’s proposed espionage franchise? Apparently SRK heard Kabir’s narration with great interest. But finally said no. A source finally reveals why King Khan rejected Tiger. He was already doing a spy franchise Don with Farhan Akhtar. You can’t have James Bond playing Ethan Hunt.
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