Top 10 Bollywood Actors Who Rejected Iconic Movie Roles

Some films create history because they are so great or have become such huge box office successes. Most actors try to be selective when taking on roles in films. Still, occasionally they wind up losing not just the opportunity to be a part of a successful film but also jeopardizing their careers. Numerous Bollywood superstars have declined legendary roles in blockbuster films. Let’s look at some of the most iconic movie roles that actors rejected.

1. Hrithik Roshan Hrithik Roshan with his unimaginable dance moves i >> Read More... (Akash In Dil Chahta Hai Click to look into! >> Read More... )

Debut director Farhan Akhtar One of the most recognized young director of India >> Read More... wanted Hrithik Roshan to play the iconic role of Akash in Dil Chahta Hai. But Hrithik rejected the part, which eventually Aamir Khan Aamir Khan or Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan is Bolly >> Read More... took up, and played it perfectly. We are glad Hrithik didn’t agree because we can’t imagine this iconic film without Aamir Khan. Also, Abhishek Bachchan Abhishek Bachchan, or Abhishek Srivastava, is a ve >> Read More... was the first choice for the role of Sid, which eventually went to Akshay Khanna.

2. Saif Ali Khan Saif Ali Khan is a film celebrity born to actress  >> Read More... (Raj In Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge)

While SRK was destined to play Raj in DDLJ, he wasn’t the makers’ first choice. It's unbelievable, but Saif Ali Khan was the first choice for the legendary role. While he might have been able to pass for a brattish Londoner to some extent, we can only imagine him as a London guy falling for the traditional Indian girl.

3. Kajol (Zaara In Veer Zaara)

Kajol and SRK remain among the most iconic leading pairs of Bollywood, with numerous films under their belt. They could have starred in Veer Zaara together too, as Kajol was offered the role of Zaara before Preity Zinta Preity, also known as Preity Zinta is a famous Act >> Read More... . Preity did a fantastic job taking on the role and gave us no reason to complain. We don’t even need to imagine Kajol as Zaara.

4. Shah Rukh Khan Shah Rukh Khan or also known as SRK is a prominent >> Read More... (Rancho In 3 Idiots)

Rancho remains Aamir Khan’s most iconic role and we love the film. But Aamir wasn’t Rajkumar Hirani’s first choice. The director wanted SRK to lead the film. We can’t imagine the film without Aamir now, and it isn’t easy to imagine SRK as a college student. Shah Rukh even called himself the “fourth idiot” for not accepting the role a couple of years after the release.

5. Akshay Kumar Akshay Kumar was born on 9th September 1967 and hi >> Read More... ( Milkha Singh Milkha Singh, fondly called The Flying Sikh, was b >> Read More... In Bhaag Milkha Bhaag Click to look into! >> Read More... )

We don’t think anyone could have played the role of the legendary Indian athlete Milkha Singh more perfectly than Farhan Akhtar. But he was not the first choice of the filmmakers. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra Born on 7th July 1963, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra is >> Read More... wanted Akshay Kumar to take on the role of ‘The Flying Sikh’ on screen. Akshay will forever regret his decision not to do it as he rejected the role because he was busy shooting Tees Maar Khan Click to look into! >> Read More... , one of his biggest flops ever.

6. Salman Khan Salman Khan is a very famous Indian actor and a pr >> Read More... ( Kabir Khan Kabir khan is a very much renowned director of Bol >> Read More... In Chak De! India)

Shah Rukh Khan delivered one of his best performances in Chak De! India, and it remains one of the best sports films of Bollywood. However, SRK was not the first choice to play the role of coach Kabir Khan. Salman gave the reason that he wanted to star in commercial films, and Chak De was a more serious film, with which he didn’t quite vibe. No offense to Salman, but him delivering the iconic monologue before the final match would have been hilarious.

7. Kareena Kapoor Khan Kareena Kapoor is a super hit actress working in I >> Read More... (Rani In Queen)

Kareena was the first choice to play Rani in Queen. The makers had approached her after witnessing what she did with Geet in Jab We Met Click to look into! >> Read More... . However, Kareena rejected the role, which later went on to Kangana Ranaut Kangana Ranaut is known in Bollywood, for her trem >> Read More... .

Kangana did a fantastic job as Rani and even won a National Film Award for her performance. Queen was also a massive success at the box office. Kareena’s loss entirely became Kangana’s gain.

8. Kangana Ranaut (Silk In The Dirty Picture Click to look into! >> Read More... )

The iconic role of Silk Smitha Silk Smitha is an unforgettable personality in the >> Read More... in The Dirty Picture was offered to Kangana before it went to Vidya Balan Vidya Balan is an award winning Bollywood actress >> Read More... . Kangana chose to do Tanu Weds Manu Click to look into! >> Read More... instead of The Dirty Picture and said she has no regrets as Tanu Weds Manu was also very successful. Vidya Balan gave a career-best performance as the erotic film actress and dancer of the 80s, Silk Smitha. Vidya even won a National Film Award for her brilliant portrayal.

9. Raj Kapoor Raj Kapoor was a renowned actor, director, and pro >> Read More... (Anand In Anand)

Anand remains one of the best movies of Indian cinema and an evergreen movie today. With brilliant performances, iconic dialogues, and a heartfelt screenplay, it is one of the most rewatchable movies ever. The character of Anand was initially offered to Raj Kapoor, who declined it. Later, Rajesh Khanna Born as Jatin Khanna on 29th December 1942, the ch >> Read More... portrayed Anand and made us love him and his character.

10. Kareena Kapoor Khan (Leela In Ram-Leela)

Kareena Kapoor also rejected another iconic role as Leela in Bhansali’s Ram-Leela. Kareena even started preparing for the role before she quit. The part eventually went to Deepika Padukone Deepika Padukone is an Indian actress and model. S >> Read More... , who played it outstandingly. Ranveer Singh Ranveer Singh Bhavnani is an Indian movie actor wh >> Read More... and Deepika had incredible chemistry on screen, and they fell in love while shooting the film. Ram-Leela went on to be a big hit, and Kareena eventually regretted her decision to drop out of the film.