SRK’s Baazigar was first offered to Salman Khan, Arbaaz Khan turned down Akshay Kumar’s Khiladi: Abbas-Mustan

Last updated:Nov 09, 2024 08:34 IST

Baazigar and Khiladi were game changers in the careers of Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar.

Salman and Arbaaz rejected Baazigar and Khiladi.

Shah Rukh Khan got his big break in Bollywood in the 1993 film Baazigar. Akshay Kumar’s 1992 film Khiladi is one of the most successful films of his career. However, both actors would not have been cast in these films if the Khan brothers had not turned them down. Baazigar was first offered to Salman Khan, while Arbaaz Khan turned down Khiladi, on the advice of Salim Khan.

Filmmaking duo Abbas and Mustan Burmawalla earlier opened up about the casting of Khiladi and Baazigar. The Indian Express quoted Mustan as saying, “When we wrote the story of the film (Khiladi), we first went to Salim to talk about it because we wanted to cast Arbaaz Khan in the lead role. He listened to the story with Arbaaz, but felt that the role would not suit him. That’s why we asked Akshay for the role.”

In an earlier interview with the publication, Arbaaz had said, “I was approached by the same directors for another film. I couldn’t do it (the film) because I had a contract with another director. The movie was Khiladi. I was offered the role of Akshay Kumar. But unfortunately that other film didn’t happen either.”

Regarding Baazigar, the filmmakers said, “We contacted Anil Kapoor but he said this subject is risky and I will not do it. So we contacted Salman, but he was doing Rajshri films at the time, all family-oriented. Salim Sahab said that it is too early for Salman to do these kinds of films. Finally, we went to SRK and both of us narrated the story.”

Mustan added: “Shah Rukh was sitting on the floor listening to the story and we were sitting on the sofa. When we finished, he stood up, hugged us and said, ‘Kya kahaani hai, mai karta hoon (What a great story, I will do it)’.”

Now Shah Rukh Khan is preparing for King along with Suhana Khan. The film is directed by Sujoy Ghosh. According to reports, Shah Rukh Khan will play the lead role in the mafia and Suhana will play his protégé in the film. Suhana will play a parallel lead role in the film with Shah Rukh Khan. It is the father-daughter duo’s first film together.

Akshay Kumar recently made a special appearance in Singham Again. He is currently filming the third film in the Welcome franchise, Welcome To The Jungle. Akshay also has Bhooth Bangla and a Housefull film in his line-up. Interestingly, Salman Khan also made a cameo in Singham Again. He is currently shooting for Sikander with Rashmika Mandanna.