Did You Know Abhishek Bachchan Rejected Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s ‘Rang De Basanti’? Here’s Why

Abhishek Bachchan, in the recent Hindi Actors Roundtable on Galatta Plus, talked about how he was offered ‘Rang De Basanti’, but he turned it down. The actor mentioned how he could grasp the narrative of the Aamir Khan-starrer and it was due to how filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra narrated it. 

Recalling how before their respective first films, Abhishek Bachchan and Rakeysh developed the script of a period film titled Samjhauta Express, in the late ‘90s. However, when they narrated it to Amitabh Bachchan that he would produce it under his banner ABCL, he realised that Rakeysh is the world's worst narrator. 

Abhishek said, “Just read his script, never get a narration from him. He will confuse you, which he did to me during Rang De Basanti. I didn't understand why they were cutting from time zone to time zone. It was called Painted Yellow in those days. I said, ‘Mujhe samajh nahi aayi, mujhe nahi karni’ (I didn't get it, I don't want to do it). Then he made Rang De Basanti. Next time he came for Delhi-6, I said, ‘Han, kar lo.’ (Ya, let's do it) I didn't even read the script.”

For those caught unaware, ‘Rang De Basanti’ is a 2006 hit film directed by Rakeysh Mehra. It featured Aamir Khan, Kunal Kapoor, Siddharth, Sharman Joshi, Atul Kulkarni, Soha Ali Khan, Kirron Kher, Waheeda Rahman, Anupam Kher, and Om Puri among others. While Abhishek didn't disclose which part he was offered from the cast, it is known that Arjun Rampal and Arjun Bajwa were even considered for supporting roles.  Hrithik Roshan too was also offered Siddharth's part, but since he was filming for his father Rakesh Roshan's 2006 superhero film ‘Krrish’, he also neglected the offer.

Abhishek eventually collaborated with Rakeysh in his next directorial, ‘Delhi-6’, which also featured Sonam Kapoor, Divya Dutta, Om Puri, Aditi Rao Hydari, Rishi Kapoor, and Waheeda Rahman among others. 

Abhishek, meanwhile, was last seen in ‘Ghoomer’, the sports drama film written and directed by R. Balki. It starred Shabana Azmi, Abhishek Bachchan, Saiyami Kher, and Angad Bedi.