Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Shoaib Akhtar Explains Rejecting Salman Khan’s Bollywood Film Offer
Shoaib Akhtar was a famous Pakistani cricketer who received movie offers from Bollywood.
Salman Khan offered him a role in one film.
Akhtar was also considered for a part in the movie Gangster.
He decided not to act because cricket already took much of his time.
He said he would need to spend months training and playing cricket and other months making films.
He also worried about the pressure to make a movie successful.
Akhtar praised Salman as kind and generous.
If a movie about Akhtar’s life is made, he would like Salman to play him.
Shoaib Akhtar said Salman Khan offered him a Bollywood film role.
Akhtar also revealed he was approached for a role in Gangster.
He rejected the opportunity because he could not balance cricket and filmmaking.
Akhtar said fitness demands in cricket and film-industry pressure made pursuing both careers impractical.
He praised Salman Khan’s kindness and charity and selected him to play Akhtar in a possible biopic.
- Who
- Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar and Bollywood actor Salman Khan.
- What
- Akhtar explained why he rejected a film offer from Salman and discussed another approach for Gangster.
- When
- Akhtar made the remarks during Tabish Hashmi’s show; his biopic casting preference was also reported in a 2016 IANS interview.
- Where
- The offers concerned Bollywood, India’s Hindi-language film industry.
- Why
- Akhtar said he could not manage the demands of professional cricket and a film career at the same time.
- Person making disclosure
- Shoaib Akhtar, the former Pakistan fast bowler.
- Film offer
- Salman Khan offered Akhtar a Bollywood film role.
- Other film discussed
- Akhtar said he was approached for a role in Gangster, but not Emraan Hashmi’s part.
- Reason for rejection
- Akhtar did not want to divide his time between cricket and cinema.
- Additional concern
- He cited cricket’s fitness requirements and the pressure to make a film successful.
- Biopic preference
- Akhtar said he wanted Salman Khan to portray him if a biopic were made.
- Praise for Salman Khan
- Akhtar described Salman as kind-hearted and charitable.