We are very aware of seeing our favourite performers in films that we have enjoyed. Even imagining how a different actor would look in the role can be unsettling. However, it is evident that the directors and casting directors have other choices in mind for casting performers in that part. Some may be chosen, while others may not.
Similarly, here is a list of films that were almost scheduled with a different cast:
1. Bajirao Mastani (Bajirao Mastani) – 2015
Bajirao Mastani was conceived by Sanjay Leela Bhansali for the actors Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai. However, the famed and Bollywood favourite duo, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, were cast later on. As a result, this picture is expected to be a box office smash. The interesting thing is that Sanjay was working on this picture since 2003, and it was finally released in 2015 with a fresh cast.
2. Dil Dhadakne Do (Dil Dhadakne Do) – 2015
Zoya Akhtar has long fantasised about a real-life romance. Even though the film is entirely fictitious, she strives to make it visually appealing and recognisable. She considered Kareena Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor as the sibling combo. Because they have some recognisable features. Then Priyanka Chopra and Ranveer Singh were cast. Regardless, they performed an excellent job with extremely methodical acting, making it appear quite realistic.
3. Baazigar (Baazigar) – 1993
Playing an anti-hero, or rather a villain could have been a career-ending role for SRK. Since this was the first time SRK appeared in Bollywood. Whatever the role, SRK took a chance and went for it. Many other celebrities were contacted for the same position, but none of them accepted.
4. Ghajini (Ghajini) – 2008
Surya played the major character in the original Tamil film Ghajini. However, Ajit Kumar was supposed to be the primary lead. Ajit was later withdrawn from the film due to a quarrel and fallout between Ajit and the film’s producer, and Surya was cast in the lead role. It was such a success that Bollywood ended up purchasing remake rights for the picture, which starred Aamir Khan and Asin.
5. Shershaah – 2021
When it was released, this film caused a major media uproar, as is well known. One of them, Aayush Sharma, was dismissed since Sidharth Malhotra had already been cast in the project. Though Salman Khan personally requested that his nephew Aayush Sharma be cast, he declined since it would have been unprofessional of him to drop an actor who had already begun working on the character he was allocated to.
Furthermore, before the film was directed, Sidharth met with the Batra family. And, after the conversation, the entire family agreed of Sidharth’s casting in the film, making it almost impossible for the director to make an impetuous change based solely on Salman’s request.
6. Dil Chahta Hai (2001)
Farhan had a whole different casting lineup in his head for this project. Akshaye Khanna, Saif Ali Khan, and Hrithik Roshan were the key stars. Hrithik Roshan was to play Aamir Khan, while Akshaye Khanna was to play Akshaye. However, after Hrithik declined the job, Farhan sought Abhishek Bachchan.
But it eventually went to Aamir Khan. Neither the producers nor the actors imagined such a cast. And, of course, the film turned out to be outstanding.
7. Drishyam (2015)
Though some of us were introduced to this film through Bollywood and Ajay Devgn’s outstanding performance. It began as a Malayalam film. Though Mammootty was the first option for the part, he declined and instead proposed Mohanlal. But, for real, that wasn’t a horrible move.