Aamir Khan was to play Vijay Raaz’s gangster role in Delhi Belly? Writer Akshat Verma and director Abhinay Deo reveal: ‘He was interested in…’

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In a recent video posted on Aamir Khan’s YouTube channel, director Abhinay Deo, writer Akshat Verma, and actor Vir Das shared intriguing insights about the casting process. They disclosed that Aamir Khan was initially thought of for the role eventually won by Vijay Raaz – the memorable gangster character who left a lasting impression in the film. Despite the producers wanting to cast Aamir in this specific role, he had different intentions instead.

In a recent statement, Director Abhinay Deo explained that both Akshat and himself desired Aamir Khan to take on the role initially played by Vijay Raaz. However, Aamir was drawn towards the character portrayed by Kunal Roy Kapur. After persistent persuasion, Aamir eventually accepted the part of the disco fighter, suggesting a point where one might relinquish control and allow events to unfold naturally.

In the end, Aamir declined both roles and instead made an unforgettable appearance as Disco Fighter. That single scene has since become iconic and continues to spark conversations among fans.

The process of selecting actors for Delhi Belly was anything but straightforward. Initially, Vir Das wasn’t slated to play the role of Arup; instead, he was intended for the part of Tashi, which eventually went to Imran Khan. Screenwriter Akshat Verma supported this, stating that such a casting would have been ineffective. After numerous auditions, the role of Arup ultimately fell to Vir Das, while Imran Khan secured the character of Tashi. Reflecting on the process, Vir recalled that he auditioned for Delhi Belly a total of nine times, each time receiving a call from a different landline at Aamir Khan Productions.

It’s intriguing to note that Vir faced a significant dilemma when both Delhi Belly and Rock On!! were slated for release on the same dates. He disclosed that Purab Kohli’s role was offered in both films, but he ultimately picked Delhi Belly over it. In addition to this, he was also trying out for 3 Idiots, where he had six auditions altogether that year.

The surprises didn’t end there. It turns out that Kunal Roy Kapur, who portrayed Nitin, wasn’t the initial pick for the role. Instead, filmmakers had their eyes on his brother, Aditya Roy Kapur. However, unexpectedly, Kunal showed up and fit the part flawlessly. This casting change turned out to be a fortunate turn of events.

Ultimately, the unexpected changes in the cast, such as Aamir’s departure and Vir and Kunal taking over, culminated in the memorable mix of confusion and humor that characterized Delhi Belly.

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2025-04-23 15:52