Bollywood is built on dreams, but also on decisions. Sometimes the biggest stories are not the movies that were made but movies that could have been made with completely different stars.
Imagine Chak De! India without that iconic intensity of SRK or 3 Idiots having its great philosophical touch if someone other than Aamir Khan was the lead actor. Hard, right? That’s because some of the biggest films in Hindi cinema were turned down politely by some of the biggest stars in history.
What’s so interesting about these casting near-misses is not only the ‘missed opportunity’ that stems from it, but how those decisions have impacted/changed careers, images, and the film industry as a whole. Some of these casting decisions would now make you look back and think, “Wow, I can’t believe they did that!” but at the time of the casting decision, it actually made a lot of sense. Let’s take a look at some of Bollywood’s biggest casting near misses and see the alternate universe we would have lived in if they had taken place.
Salman Khan – Chak De! India & Baazigar
Can you imagine anyone other than Shah Rukh Khan playing the role of Kabir Khan, an intense hockey coach in “Chak De! India”? This was the case, as Salman Khan was originally given the chance to play this role, but ultimately turned it down.
During those days, Salman was in the era of making mass entertainment films and was focusing mainly on that type of movie until it was too late. Interestingly, he also rejected Baazigar, a film that became a turning point in SRK’s career thanks to its bold anti-hero arc.
Two rejections. Two milestones in SRK’s career.
Shah Rukh Khan – 3 Idiots
Believe it or not, the man who developed and embodied so many iconic roles also turned down the role of “Rancho” in “3 Idiots.” He was offered the role initially, but he passed on it, resulting in Aamir Khan, who gave his most beloved performance ever in the film.
Considering SRK’s filmography, you can’t really say it was a mistake, but you can’t help but wonder what his version of Rancho might have looked like.
Kangana Ranaut – The Dirty Picture
Before Vidya Balan made cinematic history with her fearless performance, The Dirty Picture was also offered to Kangana Ranaut. Compared to Kangana’s other choices, this film would have been a perfect fit for this actress, but she turned it down. The role became one of Bollywood’s most celebrated female performances.
Kareena Kapoor Khan – Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela
Sanjay Leela Bhansali had originally cast Kareena Kapoor Khan as Leela in Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, but she declined, and the role went to Deepika Padukone. This was the beginning of one of the most iconic director-actor collaborations in Bollywood history. This film changed Deepika’s career; to Kareena, just another “almost.”
Kajol – Veer-Zaara
Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan are one of Bollywood’s greatest on-screen couples; therefore, it’s surprising that Kajol opted out of Veer-Zaara. Preity Zinta took the role of Zaara, which she performed phenomenally. A missed reunion, but a classic nonetheless.
Akshay Kumar – Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Farhan Akhtar’s transformation into the Flying Sikh, Milkha Singh, wasn’t just another moment of Hindi cinema but was also a pivotal point of his career. However, for those who are unaware, this role was first offered to Akshay Kumar. He declined, and Farhan’s intense physical and emotional commitment became one of the highlights of the film.
Sometimes, the right role finds the right actor, just not the first time.
So… were they really mistakes?
The term “mistake” may seem harsh when it comes to describing these decisions. As actors, the timing of an opportunity, their on-screen image, script, and their gut feeling as to whether a role is right for them all play into the choice of a role. It was not an accident when Salman Khan turned down the chance to make a serious sports film or when SRK declined his role in 3 Idiots; their decisions were determined by their respective career positions and the day of the decision made.
Still, the history of Bollywood’s success is rooted in these instances of “What If?” As mentioned earlier, every “No” gives way for someone else to say “Yes,” and in turn, create cinema’s history. After all, if every actor said yes to every great script… would we still have the magic of perfect casting?
