Filmmaker Rakesh Omprakash Mehra and Farhan Akhtar marked their collaboration when they created the box-office hit ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’.
However, did you know Rakesh Omprakash Mehra had offered ‘Rang De Basanti’ to Farhan Akhtar?
Farhan had rejected the film back then and subsequently, the role was passed onto another actor who played the role in the drama film.
Headlined by Aamir Khan, ‘Rang De Basanti’, which was released in 2006, chronicled the story of a group of college students who turn rebels for a cause.
Mehra had offered Akhtar the part of Karan Singhania, which was eventually played by South star Siddharth.
The director recalled that Akhtar, who had made his directorial debut with ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ in 2001, which also starred Aamir Khan, and was finishing ‘Lakshya’ at the time, was taken aback when he offered the actor-filmmaker the project.
Speaking about the project and Farhan, Mehra said, “He was truly amused because he had just made ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ and was finishing ‘Lakshya’. I told him I wanted him to act in my film and he could not believe it then!
“I had offered him the part of Karan, which was the only author-backed character in the whole film. Farhan was fascinated. I could see the twinkle in his eyes. He wondered ‘What’s wrong with this guy who is seeing me act in a film?!'”, Mehra added.
The director said Akhtar loved the script but “couldn’t see himself acting at that point of time”.