Honey Irani revisits Shah Rukh Khan–Sunny Deol fallout; reveals Sunny was first offered SRK’s iconic role in Darr but he declined

Veteran screenwriter Honey Irani has reopened the conversation around the much-discussed fallout between Shah Rukh Khan and Sunny Deol after the 1993 Yash Chopra classic Darr. While acknowledging Sunny’s dissatisfaction at the time, Honey clarified that the narrative around deep resentment and hostility has long been overstated.

Speaking to Vickey Lalwani, Honey said Sunny did feel he had been shortchanged in terms of screen time. However, she pointed out that he was fully aware of the script and his role from the outset.

“He did feel that, but that was wrong because he had heard the script before. He knew the script right from the beginning,” she said.

‘The role that made Shah Rukh Khan was first offered to Sunny’

In a significant revelation, Honey shared that the role that eventually became a turning point in Shah Rukh Khan’s career was initially offered to Sunny Deol. She recalled personally encouraging Sunny to consider the darker, unconventional character, hoping he would attempt something different.




“I had myself told him, Sunny why don’t you try the other role so that you do something different from what you already have done, but Sunny said, ‘Honey ji mera image bilkul kharab ho jaega, khatam ho jaega’ (Honey ji, my image will be completely ruined, it will be finished). People like me as this,” she recalled.

Sunny’s decision to decline the part due to image concerns ultimately paved the way for Shah Rukh Khan to step into the role that would redefine the Hindi film anti-hero.

Honey explained that dissatisfaction often surfaces when one character receives disproportionate audience applause. In Darr, Shah Rukh Khan’s obsessive antagonist resonated strongly with viewers, overshadowing Sunny Deol’s traditional hero — a shift that reflected evolving audience tastes in the early 1990s.

‘Reports of hostility were exaggerated’

Addressing long-standing rumours of animosity between the two actors, Honey dismissed claims suggesting they could not stand each other or were on the verge of physical confrontation. She maintained that such reports were amplified over time and shaped by the film’s impact and changing audience sensibilities.



Directed by Yash Chopra, Darr went on to become a landmark film in Hindi cinema. While it sparked years of speculation about an alleged fallout, the film also marked a defining moment in Shah Rukh Khan’s journey, cementing his status as a star willing to take risks.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”