Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma recently revealed a big casting secret from his 2002 gangster film Company. He shared that he had first offered the role of Malik to Shah Rukh Khan, but after just one meeting, he decided to go with Ajay Devgn instead.
Why Ram Gopal Varma Changed His Mind
In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Varma explained his thought process behind the casting switch. “My first instinct was to cast Shah Rukh Khan. I went and narrated the story to him, and he was interested. But I somehow felt Shah Rukh has this natural body language, very energetic, he’s like a live wire,” he said.
The filmmaker explained that Malik’s character needed to be subtle, laid-back, and cold-minded. “I thought SRK’s natural energy would go against that. To make Shah Rukh still would be an injustice to both him and the film,” Varma added.
Different Acting Styles
Varma further broke down the difference between the two actors. “I think there’s a performing actor and then there’s an actor. I’m not saying one is better than the other, but it’s just a different style of acting,” he explained.
He felt that Shah Rukh should be left to himself and that directors trying to make him fit into a very different kind of character wouldn’t work. “But Ajay was naturally suited for that role, he’s very calm. That’s when I decided to cast Ajay instead,” Varma said. Interestingly, he made this decision right after meeting SRK but didn’t tell him at that time.
The Final Casting
After leaving Shah Rukh Khan’s house, Varma immediately contacted Ajay Devgn and locked him for the role. The film also starred Vivek Oberoi as Chandru. Originally, Abhishek Bachchan was the first choice for this role, but he was busy with other projects.
Company’s Success
Company was the second film in Ram Gopal Varma’s gangster trilogy. The movie became both a critical and commercial hit. It earned Rs 25.02 crores against a budget of just Rs 9.5 crores. The film also marked Mohanlal’s first Hindi movie.
Ram Gopal Varma’s Upcoming Project
The filmmaker is now getting ready to work with Manoj Bajpayee again. Their next project is a horror comedy called Police Station Mein Bhoot. The story is about a police station that becomes haunted after a deadly encounter. The scared cops have to run away from the ghosts of the gangsters they killed. More details about the film’s release date and other actors will be announced soon.
About Company
Company is a 2002 gangster drama directed by Ram Gopal Varma. The film starred Ajay Devgn, Vivek Oberoi, Manisha Koirala, and Mohanlal. It was the second installment in Varma’s gangster trilogy, following Satya (1998) and preceding D (2005). The film won several awards and is considered one of the finest gangster films in Hindi cinema.
(Also read: Paresh Rawal On Drishyam 3 Script: Veteran Actor Approached For Ajay Devgn Film But Denied Signing, Calls Script Very Good )
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