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Did you know Shah Rukh Khan wanted to replace himself with Salman Khan in Kal Ho Naa Ho? Here's what happened
In an interview, filmmaker Nikkhil Advani shared how Shah Rukh Khan wanted to leave Kal Ho Naa after shooting one scene and suggested replacing him with Salman Khan.
Kal Ho Naa Ho is a timeless classic, and Aman, played by Shah Rukh Khan, taught us how to cherish every moment in life. But can you imagine any other actor playing the funny, understandable, and supportive Aman? Well, it could have just been the case. Recently, the film's director, Nikkhil Advani, shared that Shah Rukh Khan wanted to leave the film after shooting for one scene due to his severe back injury issue. So, he suggested the makers cast Salman Khan instead of him since he would be away for treatment.
Nikkhil Advani recently sat down with Mirchi Plus and discussed some interesting anecdotes from working on Kal Ho Naa Ho that recently got an overwhelming response to its re-release. He shared more insights about SRK and revealed that King Khan called him and Karan Johar, who wrote and backed the film, to convey his intention to quit the film.
Sharing the reason, Advani explained that the superstar sustained an industry while shooting for Duplicate or some other film. But he didn't look after it properly, and it became severe over time.
The filmmaker explained that the first scene Shah Rukh Khan shot was the popular diary scene from the film. However, it was filmed differently, which later got scrapped, and they reshot it at a train station. After shooting for one scene, the actor realized he wouldn't be able to continue shooting and needed to get immediate medical attention
Recalling the moment, Nikkhil said, "He called us after doing one scene and said, Yaar mere se nahi hoga aap log kya ek kaam karo. You know main Salman ko phone karta hu, Salman ke saath bana do.” (I can't do this now; you do one thing: I will call Salman, and you can make the film (Kal Ho Naa Ho) with Salmam.)
Khan took the tough call because, due to the serious nature of his back issue, he had to immediately leave for Germany and undergo surgery. Consequently, he needed a 6-month recovery period after it. So, he felt the makers wouldn't want to wait."
However, Nikkhil Advani and Karan Johar stood by him and decided to wait for him to heal. So, instead of recasting for the role, they began the shoot after six months when SRK was back on set, and we are glad we could see him play the unforgettable Aman who made us laugh, smile, blush, and sadly weep in Kal Ho Naa Ho.
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