Did you know Shah Rukh Khan was the first choice for Anil Kapoor’s role in 1942: A Love Story? Vidhu Vinod Chopra spills the beans

Bollywood’s iconic figure, Shah Rukh Khan, renowned as the ‘King Khan,’ has traversed a prolific 36-year-long career, adorned with numerous accolades and memorable performances. Surprisingly, amidst his extensive filmography, Shah Rukh Khan has never collaborated with acclaimed filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra. However, fate has teased the possibility of their collaboration on multiple occasions, only to elude fruition due to unforeseen circumstances. In a recent revelation, Vidhu Vinod Chopra disclosed that Shah Rukh Khan was initially approached for the lead role in the classic romance ‘1942: A Love Story.’

Vidhu Vinod Chopra revealed Shah Rukh Khan was roped for Anil Kapoor’s 1942: A Love Story

Chopra reminisced, “Shah Rukh had a history with me. When I was making 1942: A Love Story, I’d seen his work. Renu (Saluja, his then-wife) had edited a film called ‘Maya Memsaab’. He had a small role. So, I offered him the role. I was the first person to offer him a role. He wasn’t a star then.” Despite the offer, the role eventually landed in the hands of Anil Kapoor, while Manisha Koirala graced the screen as the leading lady.

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Moreover, Chopra expressed his eagerness to collaborate with Khan on subsequent projects, including the acclaimed ‘Munnabhai MBBS.’ Despite offering Khan the lead role, the actor had to opt out due to surgery. “I told him to go; take six months, one year, whatever. But when you come back, my film is the first one you’re doing. Due to complications, he didn’t make the film. So I said Sanjay Dutt is the right choice for this,” said Vidhu.

Anil Kapoor and Manisha Koirala in 1942 A Love Story

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This led him to cast Sanjay Dutt in Munnabhai. Similarly, Vidhu Vinod Chopra extended the offer of Aamir Khan’s iconic ‘Rancho’ role in ‘3 Idiots’ to Shah Rukh Khan initially, but fate intervened once more, preventing their collaboration.

Despite these missed opportunities, Shah Rukh Khan’s illustrious journey in Bollywood has been nothing short of remarkable. From his early days in television serials to his big-screen debut in the 1992 romantic film ‘Deewana,’ directed by Raj Kanwar, Khan swiftly ascended the ranks of stardom. His portrayal of anti-hero characters in films like ‘Darr’ and ‘Baazigar’ captivated audiences, establishing him as a versatile performer.

However, it was Aditya Chopra’s 1995 directorial venture, ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge,’ that highlighted Shah Rukh Khan’s skills. The movie proved as a testament to his struggle, earning him the title of ‘King Khan’ in Bollywood. On the other hand, Vidhu Vinod Chopra served the audience with his tremendously loved film, ‘12th Fail’. The Vikrant Massey and Medha Shankr starrer hit silver jubilee in theatres recently.

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