Rajesh Khattar Opens Up About Playing Singhania in Don (2006): “I Was Confused About My Role”.

Rajesh Khattar Talks About His Role as Singhania in Don (2006)

Actor Rajesh Khattar, who is well-known for his roles in Sooryavansham and Khiladi 786, recently spoke about his experience working in Don (2006). He played the role of Singhania in the film, which starred Shah Rukh Khan and was directed by Farhan Akhtar. Although the film became a big hit, Khattar revealed that he had mixed feelings about his character during the shoot.

In an interview with the YouTube channel Friday Talkies, Khattar shared how he ended up playing Singhania in the movie and why he felt unsure about the role.

A Surprise Casting

When Rajesh Khattar was first contacted for Don, he thought he was auditioning for a different character. But to his surprise, he was selected to play Singhania — a character that didn’t even exist in the original 1978 version of Don.

Khattar said, “Don was a remake, but Singhania wasn’t in the original movie. All the other characters were there, but I had no idea who Singhania was.”

This left him confused because even during the planning stages, there were talks that Singhania might not be a part of the final script. He recalled, “At one point, I think Javed saab and Farhan were discussing whether to keep Singhania or remove him from the script.”

Despite the confusion, Rajesh Khattar decided to go ahead with the role, hoping that everything would make sense when the film came together.

Concerns About Styling and Character Look

Khattar’s concerns didn’t end with the unclear character background. He was also worried about the way his character looked in the film. Throughout Don, he wore an all-white outfit — white clothes and white shoes. This reminded him of old Bollywood villain characters, especially Ajit Kumar, who was famous for his stylish villain roles.

He said, “All my clothes and shoes were white. I felt like I looked like Ajit, the legendary actor. I started feeling like something wasn’t right.”

A Talk with Farhan Akhtar

Feeling uneasy, Khattar decided to speak directly with the film’s director, Farhan Akhtar. He asked Farhan if he was chosen for Singhania because he didn’t fit the role he originally auditioned for.

Khattar shared, “I asked Farhan, ‘Do you think I wasn’t good enough for the other role I tried out for?’”

Farhan Akhtar gave him a thoughtful reply. He said that he needed someone with a strong screen presence to play Shah Rukh Khan’s boss. Farhan didn’t want a typical villain — he wanted someone who could look powerful, even with less screen time.

“Farhan told me, ‘If I’m casting someone to be Shah Rukh’s boss, he can’t be just any villain. I chose you because I believed you could bring something different to the character,’” Khattar said.

Making a Lasting Impact

Even though Rajesh Khattar had doubts about the role and styling, his performance as Singhania left a strong impression. His short but powerful scenes added to the film’s intensity, showing that sometimes, even a small role can stand out when done right.

Now, years later, fans still remember Singhania’s character in Don (2006) — all thanks to Khattar’s unique performance and screen presence.

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