Shah Rukh Khan Was Ram Gopal Varma’s First Choice for Company, But Here’s Why He Didn’t Pursue Him
Ram Gopal Varma has helmed numerous movies in the Indian film industry, such as Satya, Company, Bhoot, Sarkar, and Rakhtcharitra. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with actors like Manoj Bajpayee, Ajay Devgn, Vivek Oberoi, Amitabh Bachchan, Manisha Koirala, and Urmila Matondkar.
It is interesting to note that Ram Gopal Varma once had the desire to direct Shah Rukh Khan for one of his films. Specifically, he aimed to cast SRK for the 2002 movie Company, but unfortunately, this plan did not come to fruition.
Ram Gopal Varma approached SRK for Ajay Devgn’s role in Company
In a YouTube video, Ram Gopal Varma disclosed that initially, he wanted Shah Rukh Khan to portray the character of N. Malik in the film.
RGV mentioned that he had considered casting Shah Rukh but ultimately decided against it, believing that having the superstar play a gangster role would seem out of place on screen.
He reminisced, “At one point, I wanted Shah Rukh. I met Shah Rukh. He was enthusiastic. I envisioned portraying him as very calm, motionless, and silent.”
Further elaborating on Shah Rukh’s suitability for the role, the director commented, “I thought it would appear odd on screen, which is why I didn’t pursue it. I had just one meeting with him.”
The director felt that Shah Rukh’s body language was not suited for the character in the 2002 film. RGV described Shah Rukh as a performer known for his hyperactive nature, which resonates with the audience.
Ultimately, Ajay Devgn was chosen for the lead role in RGV’s Company.
Abhishek Bachchan was RGV’s first choice for Vivek Oberoi’s role
Additionally, Ram Gopal Varma revealed that he initially approached Abhishek Bachchan to play the role of Chandrakant Nagre, aka Chandu, in the movie.
RGV explained that Abhishek was his top pick for the role; however, due to prior commitments for multiple films, Abhishek declined the offer. Consequently, Vivek Oberoi was cast in the role and made his debut with the film.
Company is recognized as the second installment in India’s Gangster Trilogy and featured a star-studded cast, including Manisha Koirala, Mohanlal, Antra Mali, and Seema Biswas. Jaideep Sahni penned the screenplay for this RGV directorial.
Company served as a sequel to Ram Gopal Varma’s earlier film, Satya, starring Manoj Bajpayee, Urmila Matondkar, and others.
Ram Gopal Varma and Shah Rukh Khan’s previous collaboration
Reflecting on their past work together, Ram Gopal Varma and Shah Rukh Khan collaborated for Mani Ratnam’s 1998 film Dil Se. Although SRK played a lead role in the movie, RGV was involved in the production along with Bharat Shah, Mani Ratnam, and Shekhar Kapur.
In his latest project, Shah Rukh Khan starred in Rajkumar Hirani’s film Dunki (2023) opposite Taapsee Pannu. SRK’s upcoming venture, The King, is set to be a full-fledged action film that also features his daughter, Suhana Khan.
Can you envision Shah Rukh Khan portraying a gangster in a film by Ram Gopal Varma?
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