When Salman Khan recalled on passing on 'Chak De India' to Shah Rukh Khan

Not many know that initially, Yash Raj Films approached Salman Khan for the lead role in Chak De India, envisioning him as the protagonist who would lead the hockey team to victory. However, due to various reasons, Salman did not take up the role. As a result, the opportunity eventually fell into the hands of Shah Rukh Khan, who brought his own unique charm and intensity to the character of Kabir Khan. Shah Rukh's portrayal of the determined coach resonated deeply with audiences.

During promotions for Sultan, Salman Khan humorously mentioned that he turned down the opportunity to star in 'Chak De India', quipping, "I left it because even Shah Rukh Khan should be a part of a few great films.” On a serious note, he went on to add, “When I was offered Chak De, my image for totally different as I was doing Partner and all those kind of films. My only thing in Chak De was that my fans would expect me to wear a wig and win the match for India which would not go for the film. That was not my genre at that point of time. It was more serious kind of film and I was doing more of a commercial kind of cinema which I am still doing. I would never move out of commercial cinema zone but it is just that there would be a lot of meaningful cinema in the commercial zone.”

'Chak De! India' showcased Shah Rukh's incredible acting and remains a prime example of his lasting fame even after sixteen years. This story emphasises the movie's global impact and SRK's star power, making it a significant moment in Indian cinema.

It began with Shah Rukh Khan's visit to the Olympic Hockey Stadium in Sydney. The team was pleasantly surprised by the large crowds that turned up, more than they expected. Director Shimit Amin thought they would only come for one or two days of filming. But to their surprise, they showed up every day of the five-day shoot.