Did you know our very own Fawad Khan nearly bagged one of Saif Ali Khan's roles?

'Kaalakaandi' - slated to release on January 18 next year - is the name of the film

With his challenging role in Kapoor & Sons and cameo in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Fawad Khan’s success in Bollywood has truly been one of a kind.

It was previously reported that the actor lost quite few projects due to the ban on Pakistani artists in India. The Humsafar star's short-lived career across the border came to a halt all too soon.

PHOTO: PUBLICITY

While rumour had it that Fawad was approached by team Padmavati to play the role of Shahid Kapoor's character in the movie, what some might not know is that Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial wasn't the only movie the Maula Jatt actor was considered for.



Saif Ali Khan is all set to star in Kaalakaandi which is slated to release on January 18 next year. However, the movie might have slipped through his fingers had he not responded.

“Fawad was supposed to be one of the actors we talked to when the project was with UTV, revealed the director of the movie, Akshat Verma. "It was around 2013… Fawad was going to play the role Saif plays. But ultimately everything happens for a reason and for the best. No one could have done the role better than Saif,” Akshat says in an interview with PTI.

PHOTO: FILE

“When I first messaged Saif, I didn’t get a reply. When I finally met him, it was almost two years to the date I had texted him, and I still have the message saved. This time, he had read the script because Ashi (Dua, one of the producers) had sent it to him. He said, ‘Ok we are on’ in five minutes. So the time period was, on one hand two years and on the other, just five minutes to get Saif,” he adds.



Akshat dove into the world of Kaalakaandi right after his big hit Delhi Belly, which he had written. He took nearly a year to write the script of the film but the project went through “a mad roller coaster ride.”

“It is common knowledge that the film was earlier with UTV. We were about to shoot but four days before that the project was shut down. After that things fell apart, we had to put it together again. Everything takes time,” he said.

PHOTO: FILE

Eariler, rumours arose that Fawad will be starring in Dharma Production’s next venture with none other than the Bollywood beauty Katrina Kaif. It was reported that the film will go on floors in November 2016, directed by newcomer Aditya Dhar and titled Raat Baaki.



However, all rumours were put to rest when Karan was reported as being keen to sign superstar Salman Khan in Fawad’s place.

Fawad Khan PHOTO: FASHIONCENTRAL

“KJo wants to produce a film with Salman and Katrina in the lead as he finds their chemistry sizzling. Earlier, the same film was to star Pakistani actor Fawad Khan along with Katrina, but with the ban on Pakistani actors during Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, that is not happening,” a source told DNA.

“Hence, the film-maker was keen to rope in Salman. The script is being reworked for Dabangg Khan, to make the character more suitable to him. The pre-production work on the film has begun.”

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.