Farhan Akhtar wanted someone who could look like Shah Rukh Khan’s boss in Don; Here’s how Rajesh Khattar aka Singhania came on board

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Actor Rajesh Khattar, recognized for his performances in films like Don, Sooryavansham, and Khiladi 786, recently looked back on being selected for the role of Don by filmmaker Farhan Akhtar. In the film, Khattar played Singhania, a character intended to be superior to Shah Rukh Khan’s character. He confessed to having doubts about the part, mainly regarding how his character was styled and presented. Upon voicing these apprehensions to Farhan, the director eased his worries by explaining that he was chosen specifically for his ability to convincingly portray a figure of authority over Shah Rukh Khan’s character.

During a conversation on the YouTube channel Friday Talkies, Rajesh Khattar shared an anecdote about his casting in the movie Don. Originally, he was asked to audition for a different character in the film. Later, when he learned he had been chosen for the role, he believed it was for the same position he had initially tried out for.

In the original movie, Singhania wasn’t present. However, during the interview, Khattar confessed that Singhania was a fresh character introduced in the film, and he hadn’t been aware of the character before taking on the role.

At a point, it was suggested that the character of Singhania might be deleted from the movie completely. Khattar remembered that it’s possible Javed Akhtar and Farhan Akhtar had talks about this, but he wasn’t fully sure.

As per him, discussions indicated that Singhania could potentially be left out of the screenplay. Khattar also confessed that during the filming process, he felt somewhat displeased since he desired a larger part in the movie.

Rajesh Khattar remembered having doubts about his on-screen look, pointing out that he was completely attired in white – from his garments to his footwear – which gave him the sensation of being similar to seasoned actor Ajit.

This situation made him wonder about the path his persona was following. While filming, he spoke with director Farhan Akhtar to voice his apprehensions, inquiring whether his inability to portray other roles might be the reason.

Farhan made it clear to him that it wasn’t as he thought. He clarified that choosing an actor to play Shah Rukh Khan’s boss wasn’t about casting someone who usually portrays villains; instead, it demanded a unique and commanding presence.

In simple terms, the film’s director explained that the decision to dress The Don character entirely in white was intentional for maximum impact within the confined screen time. Initially, Khattar acknowledged that he wasn’t completely aware of the rationale behind such artistic decisions.

Additionally, Khattar mentioned that as his characterization of Singhania progressed, it grew increasingly connected to himself. Post the success of “Don,” he started receiving offers for comparable roles, resulting in a phase where he experienced being stereotyped within the film industry.

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2025-04-14 07:52