When Anil Kapoor REJECTED ‘Baazigar’

Despite a grey shade, Shah Rukh Khan‘s performance of a revenge-seeking loverboy in ‘

Baazigar

‘ is remembered as one of his best acts till date. This film changed the course of Shah Rukh Khan’s career, but he was not the first choice for it!
Director Abbas and Mustan were keen to cast

Anil Kapoor

and had even approached him for the same. Speaking to Komal Nahta, the filmmakers had previously shared, “When we were ready with the story of Baazigar, we first went to Anil Kapoor. He was shooting for

Roop Ki Rani Choro Ki Raja

and he said this subject is too risky. He said it’s good but I won’t do it. He refused politely.” When Anil Kapoor turned down the part, the filmmakers thought of casting Salman Khan, but it was his writer father Salim who disapproved of the project.

Abbas-Mustan

had further shared, ““Ratan Jain got in touch with Salman but Salman was doing Rajshri’s films at the time. It was all family oriented stuff. Salim saab told us that it’s too early for Salman to take this up.”
And as fate would have, Shah Rukh Khan crossed paths with the filmmakers and praised their film ‘Khiladi’, “He told us that if you have some other film like Khiladi, let me know. We contacted him then.” SRK was quick to greenlit the movie, which went on to become one of biggest hits of 1993 and has achieved cult status now.