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From Baazigar to Sooryavansham: Akshay Kumar's Famous Film Rejections
Akshay Kumar, one of the highest-paid actors in the Hindi film industry, has recently made a return to the silver screen with the film "Sarfarosh," the official Hindi remake of Surya's Tamil masterpiece, "Soorarai Pottru" (2020). Regrettably, this venture is currently underperforming at the box office, casting a shadow on Kumar's illustrious career. At the age of 56, he finds himself navigating a challenging phase, despite his remarkable tenure of over three decades in the industry. Throughout his career, he has not only delivered numerous blockbuster hits but also turned down several film offers that went on to achieve massive success. Here, we explore some notable films that Akshay Kumar famously refused.
The Baazigar That Got Away Baazigar - ๐คฌ๐ #ShahRukhKhan pic.twitter.com/agF4l4Plob
Did you know that Shah Rukh Khan was not the first choice for the lead role in "Baazigar"? Reports reveal that the director duo, Abbas-Mustan, initially approached Akshay Kumar for this iconic role. However, Kumar declined, uncomfortable with portraying a character with shades of grey. Upon its release, "Baazigar" became a blockbuster, and Shah Rukh Khan's compelling performance solidified his standing in the Hindi film industry. Akshay Kumar's refusal of this role is often regarded as a significant missed opportunity, given the film's monumental success.
Missing the Race
Race 1 Saif Ali Khan https://t.co/1JWZjHr4Vs pic.twitter.com/MJsEyA0n73
"Baazigar" is not the only Abbas-Mustan film that slipped through Akshay Kumar's fingers. According to reports, the directors envisioned Akshay for their 2008 action crime thriller, "Race." Kumar, however, turned down the project for reasons that remain unspecified. The role eventually went to Saif Ali Khan, whose performance garnered much acclaim. The film's success spurred the producers to develop several sequels, making "Race" a notable franchise in Bollywood.
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag: The One That Ran Away
Itโs been 11 years to the day that Bhaag Milkha Bhaag was released and people still come up to me praising it and saying how inspirational it has been in their lives.Thank you for all the love for dad, and for the movie.Contโฆ pic.twitter.com/s7NzJ6V2yA
Before Farhan Akhtar became synonymous with the inspiring role of Milkha Singh in "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag," the filmmakers had approached Akshay Kumar for the lead. Kumar declined, opting instead to star in "Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai Dobaara." Unfortunately, this film did not fare well at the box office, while "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" turned out to be a super hit, earning critical acclaim and commercial success. Farhan Akhtar's portrayal of the legendary athlete Milkha Singh became a landmark performance in his career.
Sooryavansham: The Rejected Jewel
E. V. V. Satyanarayana's #Sooryavansham turns 25 today!Though a failure at the box-office, it attained a cult status thanks to the countless re-runs on Set Max and some hilarious memes.@SrBachchan #Soundarya #Jayasudha #RachnaBanerjee @AnupamPKher #KaderKhan #Bindu pic.twitter.com/j73uDohwxU
"According to reports, Akshay Kumar was one of the 13 actors who turned down the film "Sooryavansham." Eventually, the legendary Amitabh Bachchan accepted the dual role of father and son in this E.V.V. Satyanarayana directed film. The movie, which also starred Soundarya, Jayasudha, Rachna Banerjee, Anupam Kher, and Kader Khan in significant roles, has since achieved cult status among fans. Akshay's rejection of "Sooryavansham" adds another notable entry to the list of films that he let go, only to watch them become significant hits.
- PTC PUNJABI
