It is an unquestionable fact that Shah Rukh Khan is the king of Bollywood who had worked in many blockbuster movies. He started his career with movie Deewana released in 1992 and there is not turning back for King since then. Shahrukh gave us many blockbuster movies including Dilwale Dulhaniya Le jayenge, Kuch Kuch hota hai, Dil to pagal hain, Pathan to name a few. But can you believe, Shahrukh had also turned down some widely loved movies in his 3 decade long career and which eventually became blockbuster movies. This article covers 15 blockbuster movies that Shahrukh rejected, some of which rose other actors to fame.
Shahrukh has also seen his low after 2010 where his movies were struggling as Bollywood was loving Action movies more but he made a strong comeback in 2024 with two 1000 Crs+ movies with Pathan and Jawan ruling the box office. He is currently working for his upcoming movie King set to release in 2026 along with his daughter Suhana.
Every director of Bollywood wants to work with King Khan. In B-town, no one can exactly predict which film is going to be hit on the box office. Because of this uncertainity, many Bollywood celebs regret not signing those Blockbuster movies. Here, we bring out some of those great movies that the King of romance rejected but became blockbuster after release.
Bollywood Movies Rejected by ShahRukh Khan –
1. Kaho Na Pyaar Hai
Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai is an Indian romantic drama-thriller film. The film that has everything, romance, action, and, most importantly, a bit of suspense. It was well written and directed by Rakesh Roshan. His first choice was Shahrukh Khan for Kaho Na Pyaar Hai after Koyla failed at the box-office. When things didn’t work out, He decided to launch his son Hrithik Roshan as the main lead. The movie featured Hrithik in a double role as characters Rohit and Raj. The film went on to create history at the box-office and won several awards, Hrithik won every Best Actor award that year.
2. Lagaan
‘Lagaan’ which means Tax is a story of ordinary people set in a small village ‘Champaner’ in Central India during the British rule in 1893. The tale narrates the persistence of the villagers to fight against injustice and opposition. The Director Ashutosh Gowariker first offered Lagaan to Aamir, who initially didn’t want to produce the film. He then went to SRK, who also rejected thinking that the film will not work. Ashutosh then convinced Mr. Perfectionist Aamir Khan and the rest, as they say, is history. Lagaan is one among the Oscar-nominated film in the last 2 decades.
3. Jodha Akbar
A love story, sweet and romantic. An interpretation of the rich history of a great Mughal emperor. A visual treat. Choose any one of these or all three, for Jodhaa Akbar, is all in one: this is carefully crafted, meticulously executed high-class cinema. Ashutosh Gowariker has proved his mastery over his craft beyond doubt. Not many know that Ashutosh Gowariker wanted SRK for Jodha Akbar after the failure of Swades. Shah Rukh Khan in the role of a royal attire of Shehenshah Akbar in the blockbuster-hit Jodha Akbar against Aishwarya Rai. SRK rejected this film and it straight went to Hrithik Roshan.
4. Munnabhai MBBS
Can you imagine Shahrukh Khan as Munna Bhai instead of Sanjay Dutt? Well, he was in mind of Raj Kumar Hirani when the great Indian comedy-drama film was planned but he refused! It’s hard to even imagine anyone else playing the iconic role of Munnabhai apart from Sanjay Dutt. But both Rajkumar Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra wanted SRK for the film. In fact, Sanjay Dutt was to play the role of Zaheer, which eventually went to Jimmy Shergill. We have always wondered how SRK would have played the character of Munnabhai?
5. Rang De Basanti
The classic Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra film Rang de Basanti – ”A Generation Awakens” – is totally a movie about awakening. About standing up for one’s beliefs. Where the spirit of rebellion transcends time and age. This outstanding creation was first offered to Shahrukh, who wasn’t keen on doing the film. Later on, Aamir Khan did the film and received huge critical acclaim. Rang De Basanti did well at many of the Bollywood awards ceremonies, including a win for Best Movie at the Filmfare Awards.
6. 3 Idiots
After two Munnabhai films, when Rajkumar Hirani wanted to adapt Chetan Bhagat’s book Five Point Someone into a film, he again wanted SRK to play the character that later went to Aamir. Post-release, 3 Idiots went on to be the biggest grosser in the history of Indian cinema and fetched many awards. In the latest season of Koffee With Karan, SRK admitted in his trademark style, that he is the “4th” idiot for not doing 3 Idiots. The movie is one of the biggest blockbusters of the Hindi film industry.
7. Robot
A brilliant scientist builds a humanoid robot to protect mankind, but things go awry when human emotions are programmed and inner turmoil causes the robot to act against him. This is what displayed Indian Tamil-language science fiction action film “Robot” Tamil director Shankar wanted Shahrukh for Robot, a film which Rajinikanth eventually did in Tamil. But he refused Enthiran also created history grossing around 375 crores worldwide! It also won two Indian National Film Awards, three Filmfare Awards, seven Vijay Awards, and two Screen Awards.
8. Slumdog Millionaire
Danny Boyle’s “Slumdog Millionaire” hits the ground running. This is a breathless, exciting story, heartbreaking and exhilarating at the same time, about a Mumbai orphan who rises from rags to riches on the strength of his lively intelligence. The film’s universal appeal will present the real India to millions of moviegoers for the first time. Initially, Kingkhan was offered the role of Anil Kapoor in this film. SRK must be regretting not choosing this movie as this is the only Indian movie to win the Oscar awards.
9. Taare Zameen Par
Another Aamir Khan movie which was initially offered to Shahrukh Khan. Taare Zameen Par is not a movie for children. It’s also not a movie only about ‘special’ children. What it stands for and depicts stunningly is how the cruel world outside is stealing away our children’s precious childhood. It is about how our parents are turning into monsters and imposing their own dreams and aspirations on their children which eventually destroys our children’s confidence and can only create a generation of hate. Later on, it was both produced and directed by Aamir Khan only and become a big hit at the box office.
10. Ek tha tiger
Shah Rukh Khan could have been Kabir Khan’s tiger if he had not rejected the film. Kabir had approached King Khan for the film. However, despite liking the script, the actor had to turn down the offer due to date issues. He was working on Yash Chopra’s Jab Tak Hai Jaan at the time and couldn’t accommodate another film in his diary. The film finally went to Salman Khan, who was cast opposite his ex-flame, Katrina Kaif.
YourTurn!
This was our list of Bollywood blockbuster movies rejected by Shahrukh Khan. Do you know any other Bollywood movies which was rejected by King of romance.
