Before Shah Rukh Khan, Sudesh Berry had signed Darr? Actor reveals why Yash Chopra changed his mind
Here's the latest update from the Bollywood world:
It is unimaginable today how the role of the menacing Rahul Mehra in Darr could be played by anyone other than Shah Rukh Khan . While it is a fact that the thriller became one of the biggest blockbusters of Bollywood, it was also a movie which gave SRK one of his iconic roles ever. Nevertheless, it has been revealed many years after that star Sudesh Berry had initially been cast in the movie.
Adding to this, Sudesh Berry reveals he was the original choice for Darr before Shah Rukh Khan landed the iconic role. Sudesh Berry says he had almost signed Darr Sudesh Berry, while appearing on the Accompany Akki podcast, opened up that the makers had cast him as Rahul Mehra, the stalker who ends up being completely obsessed with Kiran played by Juhi Chawla. He shared that the movie was at a very advanced stage, with even his costumes prepared, but then something strange happened.
Meanwhile, “I was offered the role in Darr, and even my costumes were ready,” he shared. He explained that the casting of the other lead kept changing during the movie's development. “Initially, it was Rishi Kapoor, then Aamir Khan was considered, and then they finally cast Sunny Deol,” he revealed.
Notably, As per Sudesh Berry, he found out later that Yash Chopra had second thoughts about his decision owing to the climax of the movie. As per him, the director felt that the effect of the final showdown would be reduced if a less known star overpowers a big star like Sunny Deol.
As per the latest buzz, “Towards the end, there's a shot of my character punching the other person. Whoever played the other character, it appeared as if a bigger star was being punched by Sudesh Berry. This is what I heard,” Sudesh recounted, adding that he has never watched the movie to date, adding “Yash ji was a maker too, and makers are always a bit passionate. They are able to make such good movies because of that passion.”
In further updates, Rolled out in 1993, Darr, directed by Yash Chopra, is a psychological thriller that revolves around Rahul Mehra (Shah Rukh Khan), who develops an unhealthy obsession with Kiran (Juhi Chawla). While Kiran is in a relationship with Sunil Malhotra (Sunny Deol), Rahul fails to accept that she has moved on with her life and starts stalking and intimidating her, posing a threat to all those around her.
On top of that, Darr was a huge commercial hit. SRK's dialogue “K-K-K-Kiran” made it one of the most memorable lines in the history of Bollywood.
Monica Yadav is a senior entertainment journalist with Hindustan Times Entertainment, based in Mumbai, with nearly 11 years of experience covering Bollywood, Hollywood and Asian entertainment, including Korean, Chinese and Thai cinema, television and music. She is among the few Indian journalists in India with a dedicated focus on Korean entertainment, including K-pop and K-dramas, and has interviewed some of the industry's biggest stars while closely tracking the rise of global pop culture. Her reporting has also taken her beyond India, where she has covered travel, culture and entertainment. Alongside her work at Hindustan Times, her bylines have appeared in several international publications. Known for her in-depth interviews, feature stories and engaging storytelling, Monica enjoys exploring the human side of entertainment. From breaking news and long-form features to music coverage, explainers and on-camera conversations with artists, she is passionate about telling stories that connect with audiences across the world. Read More
Source: Hindustan Times