There are many films and roles turned down by many actors which later accepted by other actors made the history.Can you imagine Gabbar Singh without Amjad Khan,Teesri Manzil without Shammi Kapoor, Zanjeer without Amitabh Bachchan,The Dirty Picture without Vidya Balan, Munnabhai without Sanjay Dutt, Baazigar without Shah Rukh Khan... You would be surprised to know that these films were first offered to other actors which they did not accepted.Many a times the actors know that the product will work but they still refuse it due to date problem or budget constraints or equations with co-stars.
I have taken many such films or roles which were offered to a particular actor later went to other actor. Here’s looking at the rejected films that went on to become mega hits.
Lawrence of Arabia
The first such incidence come to my mind is the role offered to Dilip Kumar in the Great Hollywood movie of the 60s David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia, which then went to Egyptian actor Omar Sharif.He was nominated for Oscar Award for this role.
Pyasaa 1957
Guru Dutt wanted Dilip Kumar to play the leading role in the movie, which the tragedy king declined. Guru Dutt himself played and movie went on to become one of the most commercially successful movies of the year.Similarly Pyasaa was to be made with actresses, Nargis Dutt and Madhubala in the roles Mala Sinha and Waheeda Rehman played eventually. But the two actresses couldn't decide which role they wanted to play and Guru Dutt eventually opted for two then new actresses, Mala and Waheeda
Mughal-E-Azam
The role of Anarkali was originally offered to Suraiya? but the role went to Madhubala. Dilip Kumar was initially rejected for the role of Salim. Did you know that role of young Prince Salim was offered to Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain? but the role went to Jalal Agha. Mughal-E-Azam is a classic movie.
Devdas (1955)
The roles of Paro and Chandramukhi were originally offered to Meena Kumari and Nargis. But Meena Kumari couldn’t do the role as her husband had some conditions which was not ok with director Bimal Roy. Bina Rai was next offered, but she refused. Suraiya also wanted the role, but the role finally went to Suchitra Sen. Nargis refused to do Chandramukhi as she wanted to play Paro. No one was willing to play Chandramukhi. Since there was no other choice, Vyjanthimala got the role.
Mother India
Director Mehboob Khan wanted to cast Sabu Dastagir, an Indian origin Hollywood star who famously appeared in The Thief Of Baghdad and Jungle Book, as Birju. However, Sabu, who had become an American citizen, failed to get a work permit for his native country. Dilip Kumar had also expressed an interest in playing Birju but Nargis rejected the idea since she felt the public would not find credible the idea of a formerly romantic jodi, who starred in films like Andaz, to be playing mother and son. Sunil Dutt finally got the role that became the defining role of his career.
Tumsa Nahin Dekha.
Tumsa Nahin Dekha is a 1957 Indian film produced by Sashadhar Mukherjee for Filmistan and written and directed by Nasir Hussain. The film marked Hussain's evolution into a director. He had written films like Munimjee and Paying Guest.The film was originally offered to Dev Anand but he declined due to which Amita and Shammi Kapoor came in his place. From this film Shammi Kapoor a hit hero,it changed his style and carrier,before that he was a flop actor.
Naya Daur
Ashok Kumar was the original choice for the role played by Dilip Kumar,he wouldn't have got the lead role in Naya Daur had Ashok Kumar accepted director B R Chopra's offer for the role.After Dilip kumar was finalized for the role Madhubala was signed opposite him.Both were in love at that time but Mdhubala's father who was against their relationship refused to allow her to shoot on location in Bhopal, reportedly because he thought it will bring opportunity Dilip Kumar and Madhubala to come closer, much against Ataulla Khan's wishes. B R Chopra sued Madhubala and her father for breach of contract and the role eventually went to Vyjayanthimala.
Teesri Manzil
Nasir Hussain produced and wrote the film under his home banner. He approached Dev Anand to star in Teesri Manzil and he immediately agreed. However, at the same time, another of Nasir Hussain's production Baharon Ke Sapne was to be directed by Vijay Anand. However, on occasion of Sadhana's engagement party, a misunderstanding erupted between Devanand and Nasir Hussain,Dev Anand opted out from the film,once again this film went to Shammi Kapoor.ret is history.
Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam,
Shashi Kapoor was the first choice for the role of Bhootnath in Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, losing it when he showed up two-and-a-half hours late for a meeting with Guru Dutt and Abrar Alvi. The next choice was Bengali actor Biswajeet, whose Hindi film debut it would have been. Biswajeet backed out because he didn't want to be tied into an exclusive contract with Guru Dutt. Finally, Guru Dutt cast himself as Bhootnath, the Ghulam.
Waqt
It was the first multi star cast film of Bollywood. B R Chopra the producer wanted to cast Prithviraj Kapoor and his three sons Raj, Shammi and Shashi Kapoor but the idea was shelved after a filmmaker pointed out that it would be difficult for the audience to accept the scenes in which they have to show unfamiliarity with one another. Waqt was then made with Balraj Sahni as the patriarch and Raaj Kumar, Sunil Dutt and Shashi Kapoor as the sons. The film was directed by B R Chopra's younger brother, Yash Chopra.
Sangam
The role of Rajendra Kumar was first offered to Dilip Kumar,who had some problems with the climax and didn't want the character of Gopal to sacrifice his life. Raj Kapoor then approached Dev Anand for the role, but he declined citing date problems and the role fell into Rajendra Kumar's lap.
Anand
It is said that Hrishikesh Mukherjee had first offered the film to Raj Kapoor which he refused and then Hrishikesh Mukharjee thought of Kishore Kumar to play the role which Rajesh Khanna did but somehow Kishore was not interested in acting,his carrier as a singer was at his peak, he declined the role. It’s hard to imagine Anand without Khanna’s Babumoshai.
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
Sholay.
Shatrughan Sinha had apparently turned down Sholay, and the role was given to Amitabh Bachchan on the recommendation of Dharmendra. Incidentally, Shatrughan had even turned down Amitabh’s role in Deewar. Imagine Gabbar without Amjad Khan, Danny Denzongapa was the first choice of Ramesh Sippy ,Danny had to turn down the role of Gabbar Singh as he was shooting for Feroze Khan’s film Dharmatma.
Khilona
Mumtaz was literally the last actress to be offered Khilona, opposite Sanjeev Kumar. There was almost no actress who had not rejected the role. Not only was the film a hit, Mumtaz's performance fetched her her only Filmfare Best Actress award.
Maine Pyaar Kiya
A little known actor named Vikas Bhalla was the original choice for Salman Khan's role in Maine Pyaar Kiya, the film that eventually launched Salman to stardom?
Baazigar
Shah Rukh Khan's role in Baazigar was first offered to Akshay Kumar, Arbaaz Khan, Salman Khan and Anil Kapoor, all of who refused to play an anti-hero.
Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam,
Kareena Kapoor was offered the role of Nandini,she refused which went to Aishwarya Rai which is the most famous roles of her career.
Munnabhai MBBS
The role of Munnabhai was first offered to SRK who had no dates so the role went to Sanjay Dutt.Rest is history. In fact, Sanjay Dutt was originally considered for the role of the young Muslim cancer patient which eventually went to Jimmy Shergill and won him his most memorable cameo.
Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge
The role of Rahul was offered to Saif Ali Khan but he couldn't give Aditya Chopra the dates he wanted ultimately Shah Rukh Khan was picked for this role.DDLJ could never have been what it is without SRK. Let's not even imagine Saif instead of SRK here.
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Rakesh Om Prakash Mehra wanted Akshay Kumar to play the role of Milka but Akshay refuse this one and say yes to movies like Kambakkth Ishq and Tees Maar Khan. The role went to Farhan who gave a memorable performance.
The Dirty Picture
The role played by Vidya Balan in this picture was first offered to Kangana Ranaut,she refused the role because she had to put on her weight for the role.The Dirty Picture brought Vidya Balan to the limelight like never before. What a mistake Kangana?
