Behind the Scenes: The Unseen Story of Chak De India’s Casting

Chak De India, directed by Shimit Amin and released in 2007, was a surprise success. Despite a disastrous first trailer, the film became a blockbuster. The role of coach Kabir Khan was initially offered to Salman Khan. Several explanations exist regarding why Salman Khan did not ultimately take on the role. One explanation posits that financial demands from Salman Khan proved to be too high for producer Aditya Chopra, leading to a breakdown in negotiations. This is supported by the fact that they did not collaborate again until Ek Tha Tiger. Another theory suggests creative differences, with Salman Khan wanting changes to the script that Shimit Amin was unwilling to make. Shah Rukh Khan then took the role, bringing his personal history with the sport to the project. The film initially had a slow start, but it gained momentum and became the second-highest-grossing film of 2007, following Om Shanti Om.