The 1992 thriller Baazigar, directed by Abbas-Mustan, marked a significant turn in Shah Rukh Khan’s career, introducing him as an anti-hero. His portrayal of Ajay Sharma, also known as Vicky Malhotra, seeking vengeance for his family’s downfall remains a memorable cinematic portrayal. However, it might surprise many to learn that actor Deepak Tijori was originally slated for this role.
In a recent interview, Deepak disclosed that he was initially considered for the lead in Baazigar, a movie inspired by Hollywood’s A Kiss Before Dying. He shared that during that era, the concept of copyright wasn’t prevalent, and many films drew inspiration from Hollywood without a structured studio system.
Deepak pitched the film’s story to the director duo Abbas-Mustan, proposing to play the role of Ajay while suggesting they cast other actors for different parts. The directors agreed, and when he met producer Pahlaj Nihalani, who showed interest in the project, things appeared to fall into place. However, a sudden turn of events arose when Pahlaj informed Deepak that Abbas-Mustan were negotiating with Venus for the same film.
Despite this unexpected development, Baazigar went on to become a milestone in Indian cinema, achieving both commercial success and critical acclaim. The movie garnered numerous awards, including the Filmfare Awards for Best Actor for Shah Rukh Khan and Best Supporting Actress for Shilpa Shetty. Kajol also played a pivotal role as the female lead in the film.