Archive · 5 Aug 2026
Actor Who Rejected Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn Debut Roles
A movie called Deewana came out in 1992 and made a man named Shah Rukh Khan a huge star.
But the director first asked another actor, Avinash Wadhawan, to play that role.
Avinash said no because he did not want to play the second hero behind Rishi Kapoor, and he had other filming dates.
Another movie, Phool Aur Kaante, later made Ajay Devgn famous, and Avinash was asked to do that one too.
He had to refuse because he was already busy with song schedules for four other films.
The makers then asked Akshay Kumar, but he also said no, so they chose Ajay Devgn, and the film became a superhit.
Avinash says he ruined his own chances about ten times by saying no and not having a godfather in the industry.
He even says his own secretary turned down big movie offers for him while he was busy shooting.
When Phool Aur Kaante became a hit, he was in Ooty with Akshay Kumar, and both of them regretted saying no.
Avinash Wadhawan was the first choice for Deewana, the 1992 Raj Kanwar film that became Shah Rukh Khan's breakthrough role.
He rejected the role citing date issues and his reluctance to play second hero to Rishi Kapoor, entering the film only in the second half.
He also turned down Phool Aur Kaante, which became Ajay Devgn's debut film, after Akshay Kumar had also declined it.
Avinash could not give the required 40 consecutive shooting days because he was committed to song schedules of four films.
He said he 'jeopardized' his own chances some 10 times, blaming the lack of a godfather, early marriage, and a secretary who refused offers on his behalf.
- Who
- Bollywood actor Avinash Wadhawan, who was the first choice for the debut roles that launched Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn.
- What
- He revealed in an interview why he rejected the lead roles in Deewana and Phool Aur Kaante, both of which became blockbusters with other actors.
- When
- Before the releases of Phool Aur Kaante (1991) and Deewana (1992); his interview appeared recently on the Hindi Rush YouTube channel.
- Where
- The Hindi (Bollywood) film industry; during filming in Ooty, he learned Phool Aur Kaante had become a superhit.
- Why
- Because of date clashes, reluctance to play second hero, doubts about the films' success, and prior commitments to other projects.
- Actor
- Avinash Wadhawan
- Film that launched Shah Rukh Khan
- Deewana (1992), directed by Raj Kanwar
- Film that launched Ajay Devgn
- Phool Aur Kaante (1991), directed by Kuku Kohli
- Reason for rejecting Deewana
- Date issues; did not want to play second hero to Rishi Kapoor
- Reason for rejecting Phool Aur Kaante
- Committed to song schedules of four films; 40 consecutive days required
- Who suggested Ajay Devgn
- Action director Veeru Devgan
- Other actor who declined
- Akshay Kumar
- Film Avinash benefited from
- Ayee Milan Ki Raat (rejected by Salman Khan)