Hrithik Roshan Was First Considered for Salman Khan's 900-Crore Blockbuster, But One Condition Cost Him the Role

Hrithik Roshan, one of Bollywood’s most accomplished stars, has delivered several blockbusters since his remarkable debut. At one point, he was also in talks to headline what would later become the biggest film of Salman Khan’s career. However, the opportunity slipped away due to a condition set by his father, veteran actor-director Rakesh Roshan.

The film in question is Bajrangi Bhaijaan

. Before Salman Khan came onboard, discussions were held about casting Hrithik Roshan in the lead role. According to reports, Rakesh Roshan not only liked the script but had even shown interest in having Hrithik portray the central character. Yet, a single disagreement changed the course of the film’s history.

Why Hrithik Roshan Was Not Cast in Bajrangi Bhaijaan

The 2015 blockbuster was written by acclaimed screenwriter K. V. Vijayendra Prasad. He is said to have first narrated the story to Rakesh Roshan, who was immediately impressed and open to featuring his son in the project. However, Vijayendra Prasad reportedly expressed his desire to co-produce the film. This became the turning point.

Rakesh Roshan declined the proposal, unwilling to share production responsibilities. As a result, Vijayendra Prasad decided not to hand over the story. The script then found its way to Salman Khan and director Kabir Khan, who jointly produced the film, with Kabir helming the project.

A Record-Breaking Success
Released on Eid 2015, Bajrangi Bhaijaan paired Salman Khan with Kareena Kapoor Khan. The film was made on a budget of around ₹90 crore and went on to become a massive global success. It collected ₹320.60 crore in India and an impressive ₹955 crore worldwide. The film remains the highest-grossing title in the careers of both Salman and Kareena and was the top-earning Bollywood film of 2015.

Had the casting worked out differently, Hrithik Roshan could have been the face of this milestone film. Instead, the project went on to become one of the biggest blockbusters of Salman Khan’s journey.