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Maharaj: Did you know Irrfan Khan was first choice to play antagonist, not Jaideep Ahlawat?
Maharaj director Siddharth P. Malhotra reveals that Irrfan Khan was their first choice to play the character of Jadunath Maharaj in the film and not Jaideep Ahlawat. Read for details.
Junaid Khan's debut film Maharaj has received a good response from the audience and critics. Also starring Jaideep Ahlawat, Sharvari Wagh, and Shalini Pandey, it has become one of the most loved OTT films of 2024 thanks to its hard-hitting story and performances of the star cast.
Jaideep Ahlawat's performance has been one of the most adored ones in the film. But do you know, it was Irrfan Khan who was the original choice for the character he played? Director Siddharth P. Malhotra himself made the revelation recently.
Irrfan Khan was the first choice to play the antagonist in Maharaj
Jaideep Ahlawat aced the character of Jadunath Maharaj in the film, and one can hardly find any flaw in his portrayal. At the recent press conference of Maharaj, director Siddharth P. Malhotra praised the actor for his performance and also revealed that it was Irrfan Khan who was their first choice for the character.
Speaking at the event, he said that the only person they could imagine for the role of Maharaj was the late actor. "God bless his soul. In our opinion, nobody could play this role but Irrfan Khan," he said while adding that it’s a lot of pressure for Jaideep, and he kept telling the actor that only he could match Irrfan’s level of performance.
Praising Jaideep, he said he's one of the best actors today in the country. He also shared how convincing him for Maharaj was a tough task and that he declined the role at first. "He was unsure how he would play it," said the director while adding that they did a narration to explain their take on Maharaj.
"We were very grateful that sir agreed and came on board. He’s rightfully getting all the love he gets for every film,” he concluded.
More about Maharaj
Maharaj is based on the 1862 Maharaj Libel Case and tells the story of journalist and social reformer Karsandas Mulji, who fought for women's rights in India before independence. Junaid Khan plays the character of Karsandas in the film alongside Jaideep Ahlawat, Sharvari Wagh, and Shalini Pandey, among others.
Directed by Siddharth P. Malhotra and produced by YRF, the film was earlier scheduled to release on June 14. However, the release was delayed by a week following a hold on the movie by Gujarat High Court. It was finally released on Netflix on June 21.
ALSO READ: Maharaj: Junaid Khan’s jiju Nupur Shikhare reviews actor’s debut movie; says THIS
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