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India.com

13-07-2025

Made for Rs 2 crore, this movie was a hit, but was almost shelved after over half the shoot was completed due to casting conflicts. It went on to earn over Rs 5 crore and became a cult classic, featuring names like Aamir Khan and Deepak Tijori.
Before it became the defining teen sports drama of the 90s, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar was dangerously close to being abandoned altogether. With nearly 75% of the film already shot, the makers faced a massive creative dilemma — the lead wasn't working. Director Mansoor Khan reportedly grew increasingly dissatisfied with the casting decision, even though the film was deep into production. At the centre of this storm? Model-turned-actor Milind Soman, who had originally been roped in for the antagonist's role.
Actor Deepak Tijori, who would later immortalise the role of Shekhar Malhotra, wasn't always the obvious choice. He had auditioned for the part early on and was rejected. Recalling the moment in a recent interview, Tijori said, 'I auditioned but was rejected despite a good performance. I was disappointed, but I moved on, and Aashiqui became a hit.'
Meanwhile, the film's troubles intensified. 'There were whispers of trouble on set,' Tijori shared, 'but I wasn't involved anymore. I was busy finishing Aashiqui and Sadak.' However, destiny had other plans. As the shoot halted and panic set in, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt — a mentor to Tijori — stepped in.
Bhatt pushed Tijori to revisit the project. 'He told me to go meet Mansoor Khan, and though I hesitated, I finally agreed,' Tijori said. That meeting not only changed the trajectory of the film but also of Tijori's career. 'Later, Aamir and Mansoor told me the film had been shelved and that Mansoor was in depression. He thought he had wasted his father's money. The film only resumed after I joined the cast.'
When Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar was finally released in 1992, it was made on a modest Rs 2 crore budget and raked in over Rs 5 crore — a major success for its time. Today, it stands as a nostalgic cult favourite, a launching pad for many, and proof that sometimes, films do get a second chance — and they win.