Abbas Mustan's ' Baazigar ,' released in 1993, is a pivotal film in Bollywood history, marking Shah Rukh Khan 's emergence as a leading actor. SRK rose to fame with this film and it's still considered one of his most memorable movies. The film revolves around Vicky Malhotra, a man driven by revenge against the businessman who ruined his family.
Its blend of romance and thriller elements, along with Khan's compelling performance, captivated audiences and established him as the quintessential anti-hero of the 1990s. Not many are aware that before Shah Rukh Khan took on this film, it was initially offered to Salman Khan . However, Salman turned it down due to concerns about the character's negative appeal.
Abbas-Mustan had offered the movie to Salman, but that time, the character of Vicky Malhotra was seen as overwhelmingly negative. Both Salman and his father, Salim Khan , expressed their discomfort with this portrayal. They suggested incorporating a mother-like character into the narrative to provide emotional depth and soften the primary antagonist's image.
This idea aimed to create a more relatable and sympathetic character arc. Salman shared his thoughts on 'Baazigar' during an appearance on The Kapil Sharma Show, stating, “I liked Baazigar, but I found the character too negative. So I told Abbas-Mustan to add a mother-like character.
” He recounted how the directors laughed at this suggestion, deeming it cliché. Despite their dismissal, Salman remained firm about his .
