The film “Chak De India,” starring Shah Rukh Khan, is often regarded as one of his best works throughout his career. Not only did it captivate audiences, but it also proved to be a significant financial success at the box office, managing to rake in substantial profits even with a modest initial opening.
Initially, Shah Rukh Khan wasn’t the intended lead for the hockey coach role in Chak De India; instead, that offer went to Salman Khan. Let’s delve into the reasons why a sports drama featuring Salman Khan never came to fruition.
According to some news articles, it was said that Salman Khan demanded a large fee for the film “Chak De India.” This reason might have been why Aditya Chopra didn’t collaborate with him until the release of “Ek Tha Tiger” in 2012, at which point Salman agreed to work under his own conditions.
When Salman Khan revealed reason behind turning down Chak De India
In 2016, during the Sultan promotions, when I was asked why I declined the role in Chak De India, I playfully responded, “I chose to step aside so that even Shah Rukh Khan could be a part of some fantastic films.” At that moment in time, my public persona didn’t align with the character of a sports coach like Kabir Khan. I explained that I walked away from the movie due to the heroic expectations my fans have for me.
In his own words, Salman shared that when he was given the opportunity for “Chak De”, his public image was quite distinct due to his work in films like “Partner”. What intrigued him about “Chak De” was the expectation from fans that he’d sport a wig and lead India to victory, something that didn’t align with the movie’s narrative. At that moment, acting in such a role wasn’t part of his preferred genre.
The actor noted that the movie “Chak De India” leans towards more serious films, while his work typically falls within the commercial genre. He explained, “This film was more profound and meaningful, whereas I’ve been primarily working in commercial cinema, which I continue to do. However, I anticipate that there will be a greater emphasis on meaningful content within the commercial sphere.
To put it simply, for those not familiar, the film “Chak De India” was helmed by director Shimit Amin. This movie, launched in 2007, became the second highest-grossing film of that year, with only “Om Shanti Om” earning more.
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2025-06-09 19:37