Salman Khan has traversed a remarkable journey in his career. Hailing from a family deeply rooted in the entertainment industry, Salman was drawn to the world of showbiz and made his entry into Bollywood as a supporting actor in the film “Biwi Ho To Aisi” (1988). His breakthrough came with the lead role in Sooraj R Barjatya’s romantic family drama “Maine Pyaar Kiya” in 1989, which emerged as one of the highest-grossing films of the year. From there, Salman ascended to become Bollywood’s most successful actor and continues to maintain that prominent position in the industry.
Indeed, Salman Khan turned down certain successful films, showcasing the adage that one person’s loss can be another person’s gain. One notable example is the movie “Baazigar,” which served as a significant launchpad for Shah Rukh Khan, propelling him to stardom. The role was initially offered to Salman, but he declined it, expressing concerns about portraying an anti-hero, a decision that ultimately worked in Shah Rukh Khan’s favor. Additionally, Salman also passed on “Chak De India!,” contributing to Shah Rukh Khan’s success in that film as well.
In 2007, when asked about any grudges against Shah Rukh Khan for the success of “Chak De India!,” Salman Khan humorously responded to Indian Express by saying that if he hadn’t rejected those movies, Shah Rukh Khan might not have been able to afford Mannat, alluding to the iconic residence owned by Shah Rukh Khan. This lighthearted remark suggests Salman’s perspective on the twists of fate in the film industry and the interconnectedness of career decisions among actors.
Salman Khan expressed, “Not at all. I refused the film, and he signed it, so it’s fair. I had refused ‘Baazigar’ as well. When Abbas Mustan came to me with the script, I asked my dad for his inputs. He felt that since it’s a story of a negative character, they should add an angle of the mother in it. They didn’t agree. When I said no to the film, they went to Shah Rukh, and then they added the mother angle! (Laughs) But I don’t regret it at all. Just imagine, if I had done ‘Baazigar,’ then there would be no Mannat standing in Bandstand today. I’m very happy for Shah Rukh and his success.”
