Ajay Devgn’s role in Ram Gopal Varma’s Company is still remembered as one of his best. But what many don’t know is that RGV had first offered the role of N Mallik to Shah Rukh Khan. In a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan, the filmmaker explained why he switched to Ajay after just one meeting.
Ram Gopal Varma Felt Shah Rukh Khan Was WRONG Choice For Company
RGV said, “My first instinct was to cast Shah Rukh Khan. I went and narrated the story to him, and he was interested. But I somehow felt Shah Rukh has this natural body language, very energetic. He’s like a live wire. The idea of Malik’s character was that of a subtle guy, laid-back and cold-minded when he’s thinking. I thought SRK’s natural energy would go against that. To make Shah Rukh still would be an injustice to both him and the film.”
He added, “I think there’s a performing actor and then there’s an actor. I’m not saying one is better than the other, but it’s just a different style of acting. A guy like Shah Rukh should be left to himself. I think directors trying to make him fit into a different kind of character won’t work. But Ajay was naturally suited for that role, he’s very calm. That’s when I decided to cast Ajay instead. I just had one meeting with SRK, and in that itself I realised it wouldn’t work, but I didn’t tell him.”
RGV also revealed that he called Ajay Devgn the same day after leaving Shah Rukh’s house and finalised him for the role immediately. He shared that Abhishek Bachchan was his first choice for Chandrakant “Chandru” Nagre, but Abhishek was busy at the time. RGV then chose newcomer Vivek Oberoi for the part.
Written by Jaideep Sahni and directed by RGV, Company starred Mohanlal, Ajay Devgn, Vivek Oberoi, Manisha Koirala, Antara Mali and Seema Biswas. The film marked Mohanlal’s debut in Hindi cinema and was the second part of RGV’s gangster trilogy after Satya (1998). Made on a budget of Rs 9.5 crore, it earned Rs 25.02 crore at the box office.
RGV And SRK’s Work Front
Now, RGV is teaming up with Manoj Bajpayee for his next horror-comedy, Police Station Mein Bhoot. He shared, “We run to the police when scared, but where will the police run to when they get scared? After a deadly encounter killing, a police station becomes a haunted station, making all the cops run in fear to escape the ghosts of the gangsters.”
Release dates and full cast details are yet to be announced.
Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan is busy with King, which marks the big-screen debut of his daughter Suhana Khan. The film also stars Deepika Padukone, Rani Mukerji, Abhishek Bachchan and Raghav Juyal.
