SRK initially rejected THIS film four times, believing that he wouldn’t be able to perform the role diligently.
There are certain movies where the actors starring in them had almost no faith in their success. In fact, several big-name actors have rejected films that went on to become the biggest blockbusters of their careers, simply because they couldn’t see the potential of the script or the character. One such instance is with Shah Rukh Khan, one of the most renowned actors in the world.
Shah Rukh Khan himself almost made the same mistake. He initially rejected a film four times, believing that he wouldn’t be able to perform the role diligently. However, after much persuasion, he went on to star in it, and it became one of the most iconic films of his career, also becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the year. The movie we are talking about is Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ).
In 1995, Shah Rukh Khan, at the age of 30, was offered the role of Raj Malhotra, a college-going student in the film. But did you know that he initially turned it down? He felt that he was too old for the role, which was meant for a teenager around 18. Additionally, Shah Rukh Khan had always wanted to be an action hero, not a romantic lead, so he wasn’t keen on playing a role that was far removed from his comfort zone. The filmmakers, however, kept pushing, and after a while, he agreed to take on the role.
Interestingly, the film’s creators had originally wanted to cast Tom Cruise, with a very different storyline in mind. Due to budget constraints, they couldn’t afford him, so they approached Saif Ali Khan next. However, he also rejected the film, and it ultimately went to Shah Rukh Khan. On a modest budget of Rs 4 crores, DDLJ went on to earn over Rs 102 crore, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1995. It also won numerous awards, including a National Film Award. The film’s soundtrack album became one of the most popular albums of the 1990s and the film remains one of the most beloved films in Bollywood history.
Directed by Aditya Chopra, the film also starred Kajol, Amrish Puri, Anupam Kher, and a host of other talented actors.
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