7 Iconic Movie Roles That Almost Went To Another Actor

We are well aware of seeing our favorite actors in the films we liked. Sometimes even if we imagine how a different actor would look like in the role unsettles us. But obviously, the directors and people who cast do have other options in mind to cast actors in that role. Perhaps, some get selected and some don’t.

Just like that, down is the list of films which almost was planned on for a different cast:

1. Bajirao Mastani – 2015

Sanjay Leela Bhansali planned Bajirao Mastani on the duo Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai. But later on the iconic and Bollywood favorite couple, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh got cast. Leading this film to be a blockbuster hit. The fun fact is Sanjay was trying to make this film from the year 2003, and it got released with a new set of actors a in 2015.

2. Dil Dhadakne Do – 2015

Zoya Akhtar always had envisions of a real-life coupling. Even if the film is entirely fictional, she tries to make it very pleasing to the eye and brings out the familiarity. She thought of casting Kareena Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor as the sibling duo. Since they’ve got some familiar looks to them. But then Priyanka Chopra Ranveer Singh got cast. Regardless to say they did a splendid job with very methodological acting making it look very realistic.

3. Baazigar – 1993

Playing the role of anti-hero or rather a villain could have been a career-ending position for SRK. Since this was the time SRK was introduced in Bollywood. Regardless of the role, SRK took the risk and went for it. A lot of other stars were approached for the same role, but none of them were up for it. SRK got cast and well, the rest is history.

4. Ghajini – 2008

The original Tamil film of Ghajini had Surya as the main lead. But it was planned Ajit Kumar would’ve been the main lead. Later due to a conflict and fallout between Ajit and the producer of the film, Ajit was removed and Surya was taken for the lead role. It became such a hit that Bollywood did end up buying remake rights of the film starring Aamir Khan and Asin.

5. Shershaah – 2021

When released this movie made a big media fiasco and that is very well known. While one of them being Aayush Sharma was dropped cause Sidharth Malhotra was already selected for the film. Though Salman Khan personally requested the director to cast his nephew Aayush Sharma, he did not because it could’ve been unprofessional of him to drop an actor who already started working on the role he was assigned to.

Moreover, before the film was directed, Sidharth went to have a talk with the Batra family. And after the conversation the whole family approved of Sidharth’s casting in the film, thus it was practically not possible for the director to make an impulsive change just cause of Salman’s request.

 

6. Dil Chahta Hai – 2001

Though in Farhan’s head there was complete a different casting lineup for this film. It was mainly Akshaye Khanna, Saif Ali Khan, and Hrithik Roshan. Akshaye Khanna was to play the part of Aamir Khan, and Hrithik to play Akshaye’s part. But, after Hrithik turned down the role and Farhan approached Abhishek Bachchan.

But finally it went to Aamir Khan. Neither did the makers nor did the actors think of such a cast. And obviously, the film turned out to be exceptionally good.

7. Drishyam – 2015

Though some of us are introduced to this film through Bollywood and Ajay Devgn’s brilliant acting. It is originally a Malayalam film. Though Mammootty was the initial choice for this role, he turned down the offer and rather suggested Mohanlal. That wasn’t a bad move though, for real.