Meet Bollywood actors who rejected iconic villain roles in blockbusters like Baazigar, Sholay, Dhoom

Baazigar, the film that marked the beginning of Shah Rukh Khan's career, was first offered to Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, and Anil Kapoor. However, they all reportedly turned it down because they didn’t want to take on an anti-hero role.

Aamir Khan revealed that he was originally offered the role in the 1993 film Darr, a role that eventually went to Shah Rukh Khan. However, Aamir turned it down, believing that Shah Rukh was a better fit for the character and the film’s overall tone.

Danny Denzongpa and Ranjeet were both initially considered for the iconic role of Gabbar Singh in Sholay. However, both actors declined the offer, with Ranjeet stating that his friendship with Danny was a key reason for his decision.

The role ultimately went to Amjad Khan, making Gabbar Singh one of the most memorable villains in Bollywood history.

Manoj Bajpayee was initially offered a role in the film Omkara, but he chose to reject it. The role was later portrayed by Saif Ali Khan.

Anupam Kher was initially considered for the role of Mogambo in Mr. India, but he was later replaced by Amrish Puri. Kher has since revealed that he rejected the role for various reasons at the time.

Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt were both initially offered the role of the antagonist, Kabir, in the 2004 film Dhoom. However, both actors reportedly turned down the offer, and the role was eventually portrayed by John Abraham.