Before Ranbir Kapoor, Salman Khan was set to appear in Ramayana, but one mistake by Sohail Khan ruined everything
Before Ranbir Kapoor, superstar Salman Khan was suppose to play the role of Ram. Unfortunately, due to a mistake by his brother Sohail Khan, this opportunity went from his hands, despite considerable shooting and promotion of the film.
Sohail Khan, who made his directorial debut with the film Auzaar , had announced a film based on the Ramayana a few years earlier. Preparations for the film were in full swing. Salman Khan was cast as Ram, and Sonali Bendre was chosen to play Sita. Later, Pooja Bhatt also joined the project. About 40 percent of the film had been shot, and Salman Khan had even begun promoting it in Ram's look, complete with a bow and arrow. However, rumours about a relationship between Sohail Khan and Pooja Bhatt started circulating, which ultimately ruined the entire film. Sohail Khan and Pooja Bhatt were supposed to get married, but…
According to reports, Sohail Khan and Pooja Bhatt grew very close during the shooting of the film. Some media outlets even claimed that Pooja Bhatt spoke about marriage with Sohail in an interview. However, when Salman Khan's father, Salim Khan, found out about their relationship, he advised Sohail not to pursue it further.
Salman also tried to handle the situation peacefully, but Pooja Bhatt reportedly did not appreciate the attitude of the Khan family. It is said that she eventually walked out of the film, leaving it incomplete. As a result, neither did Sohail and Pooja's relationship move forward, nor was the film ever completed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Indian Express
Ratan Thiyam showed that the more rooted you are, the more universal you become
Written by Salim Arif It was in Lucknow that I first got to see a Manipuri production of Bhasa's Uru Bhangam, done by actors from Imphal. The person who had directed that exceptional piece of theatre was Ratan Thiyam, and the play left a huge impression on me. The combination of raw tribal intensity and lyrical visual dynamics lent the Mahabharata-based text a new vigour and sensitivity rarely seen in Indian theatre. For me, Thiyam became a director to follow. It would be later that he would become a friend and mentor. Indian theatre, then, was finding its idiom with the incorporation of elements of traditional performing arts in contemporary plays. Hayavadana, Ghashiram Kotwal, Charandas Chor, Ala Afsar were part of this new trend of using traditional folk and classical art embellishments in theatre. Habib Tanvir, BV Karanth, KN Panikkar were creating exciting productions that inspired several young directors to follow suit. Ratan Thiyam was one of them. A painter and a poet, what made him different was his keen understanding of the traditional performing art forms of Manipur and a unique visual sense. Thiyam's parents were acclaimed Manipuri dancers, and Ratan da, (as I called him) imbibed the delicate nuances of dance form and music before he joined the National School of Drama (NSD) in 1971. He was also an expert thang-ta (the vigorous sword fight of Manipur) practitioner. The training under Ebrahim Alkazi at NSD opened a whole new world of visual and performing arts for him. Yakshagana, kathakali, tamasha, bhavai, nautanki, as well as kabuki and noh were all part of the training exposure. These were complemented by regular visits to art galleries and film festivals. He also acted as Yuyutsu in Alkazi's ambitious Andha Yug, done in kabuki style and staged at the Purana Qila open-air theatre — a role he got, he was fond of saying, because of his ability to run and climb the steep stairs of the ancient fort. Ratan da understood the value of a culturally rooted theatre during his days at NSD. He learnt the importance of stagecraft — of a well-mounted production with aesthetically used colour schemes, spectacular visuals created with the precise use of lights and aural texture — under Alkazi's watchful eyes. These would become his hallmark in plays like Uru Bhangam, Karnabharam, Chakravyuha, Ritusamhara, Uttar Priyadarshi, to name a few. Like Akira Kurosawa, Thiyam assimilated the narrative traditions of Greek and Japanese theatre and our own Natyashastra to create a spectacular body of work. After graduating from NSD in 1974, Ratan da opened his Chorus Repertory Theatre in Imphal, his hometown, in 1976 and started to groom actors. By 1978, he was touring with his plays to far-off places across the country. It was in January 1984 that we, as third-year students of NSD, went to Imphal to work with Ratan da for three months and do a production of Andha Yug using Manipuri art forms. Those three months gave us an insight into how Ratan da kept his theatre going in difficult conditions. Those were the days of insurgency, and curfew was imposed by 6 pm every evening. Working with Petromax lanterns, without electricity or basic facilities, we were kept away from the city in a camp created on the land where his repertory stands today. It was an open field near a pond, and each day we were shown several performances and learnt from various gurus in that space. Afterwards, all these elements would come together in our production of Andha Yug. At the time, the only access to the outside world was the evening newspapers that came from Calcutta by air, and we would rush to get them and return before curfew set in. This was the way his actors were trained for years, and we were only following the pattern. It was remarkable that all the props, costumes and accessories were also made by his team, some of whom would also cook for us. The financial support that Ratan da got for his company as a grant was not much, and he subsidised it by hiring out light and sound equipment to others and getting some additional money for his team. Since that trip, Ratan da remained a life-long mentor and a friendly elder who would look me up whenever he was in Mumbai. I still remember his calls after he saw my work in Bharat Ek Khoj, Mirza Ghalib and Chanakya. I would also look forward to opportunities to visit Imphal to meet him. Ratan da became the director of NSD in 1987 for two brief years. Before he left, he organised a much-awaited convocation that had batches from 1974 to 1986 return to take their diplomas from Alkazi, who agreed to come back for the occasion. It was interesting to see Ratan da take his own diploma certificate — signed by himself — from Mr Alkazi. Later on, as the chairperson of NSD, he was responsible for getting the Theatre Olympics to India in 2017-18. Ratan da put Manipuri theatre on the world stage. After Habib Tanvir, he remains the most acknowledged and awarded of Indian theatre practitioners abroad. Like Habib saab, he brought a socially conscious worldview to his plays. But unlike Habib saab, his plays were created in difficult political circumstances. The yearning for peace amidst Manipur's political turmoil remained a lasting theme, often layered under the spectacles he created on stage. The fusion of a strong regional sensitivity with a modern sensibility will remain Thiyam's lasting legacy, proving that the more rooted you are, the more universal you become. The writer, an NSD alumnus, is a theatre practitioner and costume designer
India.com
5 hours ago
- India.com
This popular actress to feature in Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayana; The role is..., her name is,...
In the grand tapestry of Indian cinema, a new chapter is all set to unfold, weaving together tales of valor, devotion, and destiny. A monumental project based on our historical epic is set to bring to life an epic saga, enlisting talents from diverse backgrounds to portray characters etched in Bharat's rich history. Who is this actress? Here we are talking about the Assamese actress Surabhi Das, who is poised to make her Bollywood debut in Nitesh Tiwari's ambitious adaptation of Ramayana. Surabhi will portray the character of Nirmala, sister of Mata Sita and wife of Lord Lakshmana, which means that she'll be sharing screen space with Ravie Dubey. Expressing her excitement, she shared her admiration for co-stars Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi, highlighting their professionalism and warmth on set. In a recent conversation with Tellychakkar, Surabhi Das said that she is happy to work with Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi in the film 'Ramayana'. She said, 'Ranbir Kapoor is a very hardworking actor, a lot can be learned by watching his acting, I feel lucky to be a part of this grand project.' She further said, 'I talked to Ranbir Kapoor on the set. He respects everyone. We had a normal conversation even on the last day of shooting. However, compared to Ranbir, I got a chance to work with Sai Pallavi, she is very sweet and now I am just waiting for the film to release.' What other works have been done by Surabhi Das? Surabhi is an Assamese actress, who has also appeared in a Hindi TV serial 'Nima Denjongpa'. Apart from this, she has also done a Bengali film named 'Dada Tumi Dusto Bor' and also known for her social media presence on Instagram. To mark this grand achievement, Surabhi took to her Instagram account and shared the pictures from the sets of Ramayana along with Ranbir Kapoor. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Surabhi Das (@surabhi_das22) More about Ramayana Namit Malhotra's 'Ramayana' boasts a stellar cast, including Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, Ravie Dubey as Lakshman and Mohit Raina as almighty Lord Shiva. The film is envisioned as a two-part series, with the first installment slated for release in Diwali 2026. With a staggering budget of Rs 4,000 crore, the project aims to deliver a cinematic spectacle, blending traditional storytelling with cutting-edge visual effects.
India.com
5 hours ago
- India.com
This 37-year-old comedy show will leave you in splits, became popular due to…, has 7.6 IMDb rating, serial is..., lead actor was...
The yesteryears of the Indian Television industry have witnessed several superhit serials. Whether it is mythological serials including Ramayana, Mahabharata, or thrillers like Byomkesh Bakshi, the authenticity TV serials had back then has left a lasting mark in the audience's hearts till now. However, do you know that there was a TV series which was aired in 1989 not just on one channel but on two? The show fell in the category of comedy and till date when people remember it, they burst into laughter. Father of All Comedy Shows Was Released in 1989 Today, we enjoy stand-up comedy or even comedy shows like The Kapil Sharma Show or The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, but there was a time when a daily soap opera was loved like anything. The show which we have been talking about is none other than Mr. Yogi. The show was produced and directed by Ketan Mehta. The main character was played by Mohan Gokhale. How Mr. Yogi Show Has a Special Connection with Late Actor Om Puri You will be amazed to know that the show Mr. Yogi has a special connection with late actor Om Puri. The show was narrated by the veteran actor, and he wooed the audience. Mr. Yogi Plot Yogesh Ishwarlal Patel, an MBA student from America — popularly known as Y. I. Patel or Mr. Yogi — returns to India to meet 12 prospective brides in search of his perfect match. Narrated by Om Puri, the story follows Yogi's quirky and eventful journey to find his ideal life partner. Mr. Yogi and Its Impressive IMDb Rating Will you believe it if we say that the show holds a 7.6 IMDb rating? Yes, you read that right! The serial is still loved by the audience. The serial Mr. Yogi aired 37 years ago, from 1988 to 1989, and had a total of 13 episodes. This show became very popular in the 80s, and you can watch it on YouTube.
