When Sridevi was almost cast in a double role opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Abbas Mustan’s 'Baazigar'

The 1993 thriller 'Baazigar' remains a Bollywood classic. It launched Shah Rukh Khan into superstardom and marked significant roles for Kajol and Shilpa Shetty. But the film's casting could have been very different. Directors Abbas Mustan originally envisioned the legendary Sridevi for the female lead. In fact, they planned a unique double role for her, which would have drastically changed the film.

Sridevi was the first choice for a double role

Inspired by the 1991 Hollywood film 'A Kiss Before Dying', the famous director duo, Abbas Mustan, initially wanted Sridevi to play twin sisters, both of whom would be murdered by the hero in ‘Baazigar’. Sridevi had already played double roles in films like 'ChaalBaaz' (1989), and was more than capable of handling such a complex part.

However, directors Abbas Mustan had reservations. In an interview with Komal Nahta, the brothers explained, "We said that Shah Rukh is also in a sort of double role. Although it is one character, but he is playing it like two guys. If the sisters are also in a double role, it will be too confusing for the audience."

The script changed to introduce two new heroines

Beyond the directors' concerns about potential confusion, the producers faced another dilemma due to Sridevi's immense popularity. They worried that killing off such a beloved and iconic actress not once, but twice on screen, would generate negative sympathy for the hero's character. Audience acceptance was a major factor. Ultimately, the risk associated with Sridevi's star image led to a significant script rewrite. Two separate female lead characters were created instead, requiring two actresses to fill the space for Sridevi alone. This change paved the way for newcomers Kajol and Shilpa Shetty to step in.

Shah Rukh Khan's iconic role was initially rejected by others

While Sridevi's potential casting was being debated, finding the male lead also proved challenging. Before Shah Rukh Khan signed for the role, it was offered to several other major actors. The role was apparently turned down by Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Ajay Devgn because they reportedly thought the lead character was too negative and murderous. Shah Rukh Khan eventually accepted the challenging role, which became his breakthrough. He even suggested adding the plot point about the hero's mother to give his character a stronger motive. This change added depth to the character and likely contributed to the film's massive success.

Apart from Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, and Shilpa Shetty, ‘Baazigar’ also featured Siddharth Ray, Dalip Tahil, Johnny Lever, Raakhee, Anant Mahadevan, Dinesh Hingoo, Adi Irani, and Raju Srivastav in pivotal roles.