Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan have done one memorable film together..Rakesh Roshan's 'Karan Arjun.' But Subhash Ghai revealed that 'Pardes' producers wanted the two to come together for this film as well.
His 1991 film hit which launched Apurva Agnihotro and Mahima Chaudhary along with Shah Rukh Khan. But Ghai revealed produces wanted Salman to play the role of NRI Rajiv. He said, "After several hits, 'Trimurti' was Mukta Arts' first flop. When a film flops, the industry is quick to write you off. I decided to write a film in my own style. When the script was over, we were discussing the casting, which was a big problem. My production house thought Shah Rukh could be in the film along with Salman, playing an NRI, and Madhuri would play the central character."
He had worked with Madhuri in several films before and offered her Pardes as well. Subhash Ghai revealed, "I had narrated 'Ganga's' character to Madhuri during 'Khalnayak' too. But I wanted newcomers paired with Shah Rukh. His 'Trimurti' had flopped and DDLJ (Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge) had worked, so I knew he was a great performer."
The 72-year-old director said though people in his production house wanted the three superstars together, he was not convinced.
"My office wanted me to make the film with Salman, Madhuri and Shah Rukh because then it would be a big film and losses of 'Trimurti' would be covered as well. They were right too. But the director in me wasn't convinced that we need such a big star cast."
"I said three big stars won't go well in the script that I have. I wanted someone who looked like he has come from foreign for the NRI part. It was a big challenge but I finally managed to get Mahima, Apurva and Shah Rukh," he said.
Ghai said another challenge was to present Shah Rukh in a non-romantic role. "Shah Rukh's image had turned romantic after Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge but this role wasn't romantic at all. The challenge was to tell Shah Rukh that he won't be like a romantic hero in any shot. Till the end, there was no hero-heroine romance. It was a wonderful thing," he recalled.
(With PTI inputs)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}