Shah Rukh Khan was first choice for 1942: A Love Story: Vidhu Vinod Chopra

Director Vidhu Vinod Chopra recently revealed that Shah Rukh Khan had been the first choice for the leading man for his 1994 film 1942: A Love Story. At a conversation at the Kellog School of Management, the filmmaker said that he had offered the role to the star after seeing his work in the 1993 romance- mystery Maya Memsaab.

"Shah Rukh had a history with me. When I was making 1942: A Love Story, I had seen his work. Renu (Saluja, his then-wife) had edited a film called Maya Memsaab. He had a small role. So I offered him the role. I was the first person to offer him a role. He wasn't a star then,” said Vinod.

Shah Rukh, however, didn't end up doing 1942: A Love Story and the part was eventually played by Anil Kapoor. Later, Vidhu had also offered SRK the titular role in Munnabhai M.B.B.S. but he had to opt out of the project due to surgery. “I told him you go, take six months, one year whatever. But when you come back, my film is the first one you're doing. Due to complications, he didn't do the film. So I said Sanjay Dutt is the right choice for this,” added Vidhu.

Sanjay Dutt was initially signed to do Jimmy Sheirgill's part in the film. Shah Rukh was also offered another Vidhu production, Rajkumar Hirani's 2009 blockbuster 3 Idiots, but he stepped back again. Aamir Khan eventually played the character of Rancho. Years later, Shah Rukh and Rajkumar collaborated on the film Dunki last year. However, he hasn't done a film with Vidhu Vinod Chopra yet.