You refused that film?

Actors turn down films everyday. Some turn out to be the right decision, some of the rejected films go on to become major money-spinners, leaving an actor who was approached first, kicking himself.  Can you imagine The Dirty Picture without Vidya Balan, Munnabhai without Sanjay Dutt, Karan Arjun without Salman Khan, Baazigar without Shah Rukh Khan... You would be surprised to know that these films were first offered to other actors. The unlucky ones  missed out on adding one hit film to their resume, which could have catapulted them to a higher position.

Trade analyst Komal Nahta says that more often than not it’s not just a case of bad decision, “There are many other factors that come into play and not just the content.

Many a times the actors know that the product will work but they still refuse it. Could be because of date hassles or budget constraints or equations with co-stars (which is rare) that doesn’t allow them to green-light a project.” Here’s looking at the rejected films that went on to become mega hits.

Aishwarya Rai
Raja Hindustani
Reports claim that Raja Hindustani was first offered to Ash, but since she was not very sure about an acting career, she declined. The role went to Karisma Kapoor and it was one of the biggest hits of her career.

Ash’s loss? Not really. But it was Karisma’s gain for sure.

Parineeta
It’s still unclear whether the film was actually offered to Aishwarya or not, but she was definitely filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s first choice for Lolita’s role that eventually went to Vidya Balan at director Pradeep Sarkar’s insistence. The film shot her to instant stardom.

Ash’s loss? Yes, in terms of the scope for performance given to the actress.

Koi Mil Gaya
If things had gone according to the original plan then Aishwarya and Hrithik’s jodi would have first been seen in Koi... Mil Gaya, three years before they came together in Dhoom 2.

However, things didn’t work out and the role went to Preity Zinta.

Aishwarya’s loss? Nah! The film belonged to Hrithik and Jaadu. PZ had little to do in it.

Kareena Kapoor
Hum Dil Chuke Sanam
While other actresses have always benefitted from Ash turning down roles, according to online reports, this film was a reverse case of Ash bagging a role turned down by another actress (but some insist that Ash was the first choice).

Bebo’s loss? Yes, considering how big a hit it turned out to be.

Katrina
Barfi!
Katrina Kaif was said to be Anurag Basu’s original choice for the role in Barfi! which then went to Ileana D’Cruz. 

Kat’s loss? It’s definitely one less Rs 100-crore hit in her kitty. Besides it is a cult film, and Kat’s refusal granted Illena entry into B-Town with a hit film. That too with Kat’s beau Ranbir Kapoor.

SRK
Munnabhai MBBS
SRK refused to play Rajkumar Hirani’s Munnabhai. The role then went to Sanjay Dutt who was the original choice to play Jimmy Shergill’s role Zaheer in the film and gave Dutt’s career a whole new lease of life.

SRK’s loss? Not working with Hirani is a loss in our book.

Kangana
The Dirty Picture
It may be hard to imagine anyone else play sexy Silk with as much gusto as Vidya Balan did in The Dirty Picture. This is something that even the original choice for the part —  Kangana Ranaut ­— admits.

Kangy’s loss? We think so too! Hits will come and go. TDP is a cult film and will always be remembered.

Saif Ali Khan
Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge
It’s impossible to imagine DDLJ without SRK. The longest running films in Bollywood, was first offered to the SAF, who turned it down for reasons best known to him.

Saif’s loss? DEFINITELY. Even if Saif can’t forgive himself, the audience certainly does.

Ask any DDLJ fan.

Kajol
3 Idiots
According to some reports, Kareena’s role in 3 Idiots was first offered to Kajol. Now whether she turned it down or was only in contention, the role was finally lapped up by Kareena.

Kajol’s loss? Missing out on one of the highest grossers of all time? Hell yes!

Salman Khan/Akshay Kumar
Baazigar
Shah Rukh Khan has Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar to thank, as he bagged the hit film only since the two actors who were first offered the role had turned it down. The film cemented SRK’s position at the BO and remains one of his best-remembered films till date.

Salman/Akki’s loss? Not really, as they were also churning out hit films in the meantime.

Aamir Khan
Darr
The reject of yet another Khan, this time Aamir, once again became the stepping stone to success for SRK. The actor bagged the role of a psychotic lover after Aamir turned it down as he was not happy with how the role had developed.

Aamir’s loss? Being beaten up by Sunny Deol... Hmm, we’d say: not!

Shah Rukh Khan
Rang De Basanti
It would have been a treat to see Aamir and SRK together in this Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra cult film. R Madhavan’s role was initially offered to SRK, who turned down the film citing date issues.

SRK’s loss? Going by the film’s hit status, maybe yes, but by performance scope, we think not!

Hrithik Roshan/ Abhishek Bachchan
Dil Chahta Hai
Hrithik Roshan/Abhishek Bachchan, and Saif Ali Khan were the original choice. While  Hrithik and AB Jr declined the part, Akshaye Khanna and Aamir Khan stepped in.

Their loss? Hard to say!

Ajay Devgn
Karan Arjun
Ajay Devgn was the first choice to play brother to SRK but he made way for Salman Khan when he walked out of the film Karan Arjun following creative differences with Rakesh Roshan. Ajay’s loss? Yes, as the film turned out to be a big money-spinner at the BO.

Twinkle Khanna
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
The role that made Rani Mukerji a star overnight was rejected by the original choice Twinkle. Director Karan Johar only wanted Tina for the part, and had even named the character that. The role was also turned down by Karisma Kapoor and Raveena Tandon.

Twinkle’s loss? Not really. She was never really serious about her acting career.

They did it too...
Dev Anand in Zanjeer
The film was rejected by Dev Anand. The role was then offered to Raaj Kumar, Dharmendra and even Rajesh Khanna. According to Bolly-lore, Raaj Kumar had disliked the smell of Prakash Mehra’s hair oil and so declined the role! The role was then offered to Amitabh on the insistence of Pran. The film gave the screen it’s angry young man. And it’s said that Jaya Bachchan later thanked Devsaab for turning down the role in the first place.

Dev Anand’s loss? Definitely

Shatrughan Sinha in Sholay
Shatrughan Sinha had apparently turned down Sholay, and the role was grabbed by Amitabh Bachchan. Incidentally, Shatrughan had even turned down Amitabh’s role in Deewar. 

Shatrughan’s loss? One of his biggest ones we would say.

Danny Denzongapa in Sholay
Danny had to turn down the role of Gabbar Singh as he was shooting for Feroze Khan’s film Dharmatma. Amjad Khan was cast amidst apprehensions by several of the crew including writer Javed Akhtar. But Amjad went down in history as the best-remembered iconic villain.

Danny’s loss? Even he would agree.  

Shashi Kapoor in Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam
Reports claim that the role slipped out of Shashi Kapoor’s hands when he turned up for a meeting more than two hours later than the scheduled time with Dutt, who cast himself.

Shashi’s loss? Not being a part of one of the most revered films till date would be anyone’s loss. 

Raj Kapoor in Anand
It is said that Hrishikesh Mukherjee had first offered the film to Raj Kapoor and then to Shashi as it was conceived keeping them in mind. As per some reports, Mukherjee couldn’t bear the thought of seeing his friend Raj, die on screen and offered the role to Shashi instead. But he declined and Khanna was cast. The film locked his position as numero uno.

Kapoor’s loss? It’s hard to imagine Anand without Khanna’s Babumoshai.

Dilip Kumar had turned down the lead role in David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia, which then went to Egyptian actor Omar Sharif.

Parveen Babi and Smita Patil were the original choice for Yash Chopra’s Silsila. But when Chopra told Bachchan that he ideally would have loved to cast Jaya and Rekha, the leads were replaced.  

Dev Anand was the original choice for Tumsa Nahin Dekha. When he declined, the role went to Shammi Kapoor and gave his career a major boost.

Raj Kapoor wanted to cast Dilip Kumar in his Sangam. However since the Thespian wasn’t convinced about the climax, the role went to Rajendra Kumar.

Sabu Dastagir, a Hollywood actor of Indian origin who had starred in films like The Thief Of Baghdad and Jungle Book, and not Sunil Dutt was the first choice of Mehboob Khan to play Birju in Mother India. However, Sabu did not get a work permit here and it became Sunil Dutt ‘s gain!

Prithviraj Kapoor and his three sons, Raj, Shammi and Shashi were BR Chopra’s original choice to play the family separated in Waqt. Finally Balraj Sahni, Raaj Kumar, Sunil Dutt and Shashi Kapoor acted in this classic. 

Nirupa Roy’s role as the maa in Deewar was first offered to Vyjayanthimala, who refused the role after original cast Shatrughan Sinha and Navin Nischol were replaced by Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor.

Guru Dutt had first offered Pyaasa to Madhubala. But the film finally went to Mala Sinha.