Why Salman Khan Thought He Wasn't Right For Chak De India: ‘I Left It Because...'

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Shah Rukh Khan wasn't the first choice to play the lead role of Hockey coach Kabir Khan in Chak De India.
Shah Rukh Khan's Chak De India is a timeless classic that continues to inspire audiences with its powerful story and memorable performances. The sports drama not only won over the audience but also became a success at the box office, despite a low opening. But did you know that Salman Khan was initially offered the role of Hockey coach Kabir Khan?
So, what went wrong? Let's delve into the story behind the scenes and discover why Salman Khan passed on this iconic role, paving the way for Shah Rukh Khan's masterpiece.
According to various reports, Salman Khan's fee demands for Chak De India caused a disagreement with Aditya Chopra. However, during the Sultan's promotion, Salman Khan finally cleared the air around these speculations and opened up about the real reason behind opting out of the superhit film.
The Bajrangi Bhaijaan actor, known for his witty answers, jokingly said, 'I left it because even Shah Rukh Khan should be a part of a few great films."
Salman also shared that he had doubts about taking on the role of Kabir Khan, citing concerns that it might not align with his image at the time. 'When I was offered Chak De, my image was totally different as I was doing Partner and all those kinds of films. My only thing in Chak De was that my fans would expect me to wear a wig and win the match for India, which would not go for the film. That was not my genre at that point in time," he revealed.
Salman went on to emphasise that it was a more serious film with limited commercial appeal. He said, 'It was a more serious kind of film and I was doing more of a commercial kind of cinema, which I am still doing. I would never move out of the commercial cinema zone, but it is just that there would be a lot of meaningful cinema in the commercial zone."
Chak De India, directed by Shimit Amin, was a massive hit in 2007, becoming the second-highest grosser of the year after Om Shanti Om, another SRK blockbuster.
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