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Last Updated: March 29, 2025, 19:21 IST
Karan disclosed that Shah Rukh Khan was initially sought for the lead role but turned down the film.
Ajay and Raveena formed a popular pairing in Bollywood.
The film *Dilwale*, featuring Ajay Devgn and Raveena Tandon, became a blockbuster upon its release in 1994. Yet, director Karan Razdan encountered significant challenges during the film’s inception. His top choice for the lead role was Shah Rukh Khan, who declined to participate unless the film’s ending was modified. Veteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai also expressed doubts about the film’s potential, suggesting it was headed for failure.
In a conversation with Siddharth Kannan, Karan revealed, “The character I envisioned for Ajay Devgn was initially intended for Shah Rukh Khan. I visited his home to present the storyline, and he seemed enthusiastic about the script.”
“However, he requested one significant change: he wanted the heroine to end up with another character. I stood my ground on the film’s conclusion, which led to his withdrawal from the project. I then approached Ajay on set and offered him a different role in the film, which he readily accepted. We ultimately cast Suniel Shetty for the second lead,” Karan explained.
Karan later showed the completed film to Subhash Ghai, who was less than impressed. Karan recounted, “He warned me, ‘If you want to cry, do it now, because you will certainly be in tears on the day of the film’s release.’ I pressed him for clarification, and he remarked, ‘Do you bear any ill will towards Ajay Devgn? He doesn’t even look convincing as a mentally unstable character.’ He was less critical of Suniel Shetty, who was still new to the industry at the time. Interestingly, Raveena Tandon had experienced around 12 consecutive flops, leading to teasing comments like, ‘The 13th will be yours’.”
Contrary to the skepticism, when *Dilwale* premiered, it garnered overwhelmingly favorable feedback and emerged as a major hit. Karan reflected, “On the very first day of release, the film was celebrated as a superhit. Subhash Ghai called to extend his congratulations.” He also noted that Shah Rukh Khan later approached him and conceded that his initial advice had been misguided regarding the film’s direction.
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