Why SRK replaced Armaan Kohli in Deewana: Producer reveals

Shah Rukh Khan may rule hearts across the globe today, but his journey to stardom began with a surprising twist. The superstar, who made his Bollywood debut with Deewana in 1992, wasn’t the original choice for the role. Producer Guddu Dhanoa recently revealed that the part was initially given to Armaan Kohli, but fate had other plans. Kohli exited the film midway, and it was celebrated filmmaker Shekhar Kapur who suggested Khan’s name as a replacement."Who is Shah Rukh Khan?" Guddu Dhanoa recalls askingSpeaking to SCREEN, Dhanoa said, “Armaan Kohli was in that film; however, he left the film, and it was Shekhar Kapur who suggested Shah Rukh Khan’s name to me.” The producer recalled they were en route to Madras to check out the VFX of Anjali when Shekhar made the recommendation. “I was like, ‘Who is Shah Rukh Khan?’” he admitted.Kapur encouraged him to watch Shah Rukh’s television work in Fauji and Circus.

Though Dhanoa had seen the shows, he didn’t immediately remember the actor. Still intrigued, he invited SRK to a restaurant in Delhi once he returned from Madras. That meeting changed everything.The producer shared that he had made up his mind the moment he saw Khan in person, even before the actor officially agreed to the project. “I had locked him in my mind. He didn’t even know,” Dhanoa laughed, calling Shah Rukh “fantastic” and “perfect for Deewana.”

'He hasn’t changed one bit'Guddu Dhanoa also praised Khan’s humility and grounded nature despite decades of superstardom. “People change when they become stars. But SRK hasn’t changed one bit,” he said, emphasizing how rare it is to see someone stay the same after such massive success.

After delivering three blockbusters in 2023 - Pathaan, Jawan, and Dunki - SRK is now gearing up for his next big project titled King. Directed by Siddharth Anand, the film marks their second collaboration after Pathaan. King also stars Suhana Khan, Deepika Padukone, Rani Mukerji, Jaideep Ahlawat, Abhishek Bachchan, and Abhay Verma in key roles.