When we talk about Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the filmmaker behind Saawariya, Goliyon Ki Raasleela – Ram-Leela, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Bajirao Mastani, Padmaavat, and Gangubai Kathiawadi, one film stands out as a turning point in Indian cinema — Devdas (2002).

Made on a grand scale with lavish sets, soulful music, and powerful performances, Devdas became the most expensive Indian film of its time. The movie starred Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Aishwarya Rai, Jackie Shroff, Tiku Talsania, and Vijayendra Ghatge.

But did you know that Saif Ali Khan was originally considered for the role of Chunni Babu? Let’s uncover this hidden chapter from Bollywood history.

Saif Ali Khan Almost Played Chunni Babu in Devdas

When Bhansali was planning Devdas, his first choice for the role of Devdas was Shah Rukh Khan, while Saif Ali Khan was approached to play Chunni Babu.

However, things didn’t work out, and eventually Jackie Shroff was signed for the role. Devdas finally released in 2002 and went on to make history at the box office.

Chetan Kumar (Chetan Ahimsa) Biography in English – Life, Films & Activism

Why Saif Ali Khan Was Dropped From Devdas

Many cinema experts often say that Saif was “dropped” from the film. But the truth is slightly different.

In a 2001 interview, Saif Ali Khan clarified that he never rejected Bhansali’s offer. The real issue was a misunderstanding over money. He revealed:

• He did not demand extra fees.

• The talks simply ended abruptly.

• He wasn’t even properly informed about the decision.

This miscommunication eventually cost Saif the role of Chunni Babu.

Saif Ali Khan on Playing Chunni Babu

Interestingly, Saif later admitted in an interview that he never really felt he was a perfect fit for Chunni Babu’s character.

He said, “Even if I had done it, Chunni Babu’s personality didn’t match mine. In the old Devdas, Motilal played the role, and at least ‘Motilal’ and ‘Chunnilal’ rhyme together!”

Clearly, Saif never considered it a missed opportunity.

Shakti Kapoor Biography, Age, Movies, Family, Career, Net Worth & More

Kareena Kapoor’s Devdas Connection

Not just Saif, even Kareena Kapoor had a connection with Devdas. She once revealed that Sanjay Leela Bhansali invited her for a screen test for the role of Paro and even paid her an advance.

But later, the role went to Aishwarya Rai, which deeply upset Kareena, who was just starting her career at that time. She later said that on the same day, she signed Yaadein and decided to never work with Bhansali again.

Kareena openly stated: “Bhansali hurt me. I decided that even if I don’t get work, I won’t work with him.”

Bhansali’s Side of the Story

On his part, Sanjay Leela Bhansali denied the accusations. He explained that a screen test doesn’t guarantee a role. Sometimes, even after auditions, another actor is finalized if they fit the vision better.

This disagreement became the root of the bitter relationship between Kareena and Bhansali. In fact, Kareena once jokingly told Vicky Kaushal that her equation with Bhansali is like “Love and War.”

Devdas Box Office & Legacy

Devdas was released in 2002 with a massive budget of ₹44 crores, making it the costliest Indian film of its time. The film grossed ₹100 crores worldwide, and its grandeur is still remembered as a milestone in Indian cinema.

From its opulent sets and iconic performances to the controversies surrounding its casting, Devdas remains a film that continues to fascinate Bollywood fans.

Shakti Kapoor – A name in Hindi cinema who scared the audience with his dangerous villainy and then made them laugh a lot with his comedy. Shakti Kapoor, who has been active in Bollywood for four decades, has worked in more than 700 films and has created a unique identity for himself. Shakti Kapoor’s story is an interesting story of struggle, controversy and success, which is important for every cinema lover to know.

Shakti Kapoor’s early life

Shakti Kapoor was born on 3 September 1952 in Karol Bagh, Delhi. His father’s name was Sikandar Lal Kapoor and he was a tailor master, he had a shop in Connaught Place, Delhi. He was living happily with his wife and four children in a small house. Sikandar Lal Kapoor named his son Sunil Kapoor, that is, Shakti Kapoor’s real name is Sunil Kapoor.

Shakti Kapoor expelled from school

Shakti Kapoor was very naughty since childhood, in school he was less interested in studies and more in loitering, due to this he was expelled from school, but somehow he completed his 12th and got admission in Delhi’s Kirori Mal College through sports quota.

हिन्दी में पढे

Shakti Kapoor’s affair with Captain’s girlfriend

Shakti Kapoor was playing good cricket since his college days. Due to this he got admission in Delhi’s Kirori Mal College, but here he had an affair with his team captain’s girlfriend. When the captain came to know about this, he not only separated Shakti Kapoor from his girlfriend but also got Shakti Kapoor expelled from the cricket team.

Modeling Started

Shakti Kapoor started getting modeling offers when he was in college. What happened was that the owner of the paan shop from where he used to buy cigarettes and smoke them, used to tell him that he should do modeling or work in films. And Shakti Kapoor’s luck also favored him. He got an offer from Jalal Agha to shoot an ad for a clothing brand called Suryavanshi Shootings. After this, he got offers to shoot many more ads. Shakti Kapoor used to earn so much from these that he could smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol with his friends.

Shakti Kapoor Biography

Dream of opening a travel agency

Ever since Shakti Kapoor was in college, he had a dream of opening his own travel agency. And he had experience of it too, in fact during his college days he had also worked in a travel agency, his father had told him that he can open his own travel agency by taking half share from his shop.

But when Shakti Kapoor was about to start his travel agency, suddenly his father flatly refused to give him half the space in his shop. Shakti Kapoor was shocked and started thinking that what should he do now?

FTII and journey to Mumbai

After his father’s refusal, Shakti Kapoor started worrying about his future and was worried. Then he came to know that his friends were planning to take admission in FTII Pune and were filling the form for it. Seeing his friends doing this, Shakti Kapoor also filled the form thinking that if he did not get admission, at least he would get a chance to visit Pune. And he set out for Pune with his friends. By chance, none of his friends got admission in FTII, but he was definitely selected in FTII. Then Shakti Kapoor realized what fate had planned for him.

Start of film career

When SHAKTI KAPOOR was in FTII, he got a chance to work in a film. The name of that film was “Khel Khiladi Ka” in which Dharmendra and Shabana Azmi were in the lead roles. This film did not do well but the audience liked that small role of Shakti Kapoor.

SHAKTI KAPOOR’S FIRST MOVIE ‘KHEL KHILADI KA’

Big break and peak of career

After the film Khel Khiladi Ka, he worked in many films including Darwaza, Alibaba Marjina, but he got success from Sanjay Dutt’s film Rocky in 1981. When Rocky was released, the film industry realized that Shakti Kapoor has a lot of potential, and he is a good actor, after this Shakti Kapoor’s luck changed completely. Film offers started coming, and Shakti Kapoor became a well-known face in India.

How did Sunil Kapoor become Shakti Kapoor?

The story of Sunil Kapoor becoming Shakti Kapoor is also very interesting. Actually Sunil Dutt had cast him in the film Rocky, and he was very impressed with Shakti Kapoor’s acting. One day he called Shakti Kapoor and told him that your acting is excellent and you also suit the role of a villain, but your name does not match your work, so why don’t you change your name from Sunil Kapoor to Shakti Kapoor.

Shakti Kapoor also liked Sunil Dutt sahab’s idea, and thus Sunil Kapoor became Shakti Kapoor.

Journey from villain to comedian

After Rocky, veteran directors like Prakash Mehra and Manmohan Desai started giving him work in their films. Initially, he got villain roles. And later he earned a lot of name in comedy as well. Kader Khan and Shakti Kapoor’s jodi was one of the most hit jodis of Bollywood, his jodi with Govinda was also very successful. People still laugh out loud remembering his character of Nandu in Raja Babu. And by playing the character of Crime Master Gogo in Andaz Apna Apna, he got his name written in golden letters in the pages of history of cinema.

Shakti Kapoor’s personal life

Shakti Kapoor married Shivangi Kolhapure. Shivangi Kolhapure is the sister of Padmini Kolhapure, a famous actress of the 80s and 90s. Shakti Kapoor and Shivangi Kolhapure worked together in a film, and from there both of them fell in love. But initially Shivangi’s parents did not like Shakti Kapoor. So they banned Shivangi from going out of the house.

One day, Shivangi got a chance and ran away from home to Shakti Kapoor and both of them got married against the wishes of their parents. After this incident, Shivangi’s parents got very angry and they ended all their relations with Shivangi.

Then when Shakti Kapoor’s beta Siddhant was born, their anger ended and they accepted Shakti Kapoor as their son-in-law.

Shakti Kapoor’s life was full of controversies

Shakti Kapoor’s life was surrounded by a lot of controversies. In the year 2000, one of his films “Mere Aagosh Mein” was released. Shakti Kapoor had many objectionable scenes in this film. The girl seen in that scene was not wearing anything on her chest, that is, she was topless, and Shakti Kapoor was doing a rap scene on her. After these scenes, there was a lot of controversy and Shakti Kapoor also got a lot of bad name.

After this, in the year 2005, India TV released a video of Shakti Kapoor in one of its sting operations in which Shakti Kapoor was asking an actress to get physically intimate, in return Shakti Kapoor promised to give her work in films. After this video, Shakti Kapoor got a lot of bad name, and his life got turbulent.

Shakti Kapoor’s contribution and legacy

If the controversies related to Shakti Kapoor are forgotten, then it would not be an exaggeration to say that Shakti Kapoor is a very good artist. An artist like him will never come again in Hindi cinema. Shakti Kapoor’s daughter Shraddha Kapoor has also become a big name in Bollywood today. And Shakti Kapoor is also active in films right now. We salute his contribution to Bollywood. (more…)