When Rajesh Khanna Lost Deewaar to Amitabh Bachchan: The Casting Change That Changed Bollywood

Before Deewaar became a cult film, the lead role was meant for Rajesh Khanna. This is the story of how Amitabh Bachchan got the role and what happened behind the scenes.

Today, Deewar (1975) is remembered as a cult classic, and its success comes from its story and strong performances. When Deewaar was being planned, director Yash Chopra wanted to cast Rajesh Khanna as Vijay. At that time, Rajesh Khanna was already a big star, and it seemed like a natural choice. Producer Gulshan Rai had also signed him for the role. But things did not go as planned. The writers of the film, Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, had a different idea. They believed that the role of Vijay needed a different kind of actor. According to them, Amitabh Bachchan was the right fit for the part.  

It is said that there were also differences between Rajesh Khanna and the writer duo. Because of this, they were not willing to move forward with him. They even made it clear that they would only give the script if Amitabh Bachchan were cast. This is how the casting changed.

The Final Decision

Even though Yash Chopra wanted Rajesh Khanna, he had to go ahead with Amitabh Bachchan. The role of Vijay eventually went to him, while Shashi Kapoor played his brother, and Nirupa Roy played their mother. At that time, this decision looked like a simple casting change. But later, it turned out to be something much bigger.

The Impact on Bollywood

In 1975, after its release, Deewaar became a cult classic film. It connected with audiences and is still remembered today. Amitabh Bachchan’s role as Vijay became one of the most talked-about characters in Hindi cinema. This film also built his image as the “angry young man.” This film also marked a shift in the kind of heroes people wanted to see on screen. The audience slowly moved from romantic roles to more intense characters.

Rajesh Khanna’s Reaction

In later interviews, Rajesh Khanna openly spoke about this. He admitted that he lost the film because of differences with Salim-Javed. He also said that after watching parts of the film, he felt Amitabh Bachchan was right for the role. At the same time, he shared that he felt a sense of competition and even admitted to feeling a bit of envy after seeing Amitabh’s success with the film.

What Happened After

After Deewaar, Amitabh Bachchan’s career reached a new level. He became one of the biggest stars in the industry. On the other hand, Rajesh Khanna, who had already given many hit films earlier, started facing a change in his career. The audience’s taste was changing, and new types of stories were becoming popular.

Conclusion

Sometimes, one decision changes everything. Deewaar is one such example. What started as a different casting plan ended up shaping the careers of two actors and also changed the direction of Hindi cinema.