When filmmaker Hansal Mehta first thought about making a movie on the life of lawyer and human rights activist Shahid Azmi, he faced a lot of challenges. One of the biggest problems was finding the right actor to play Shahid Azmi in the film Shahid.
In a recent interview with Pinkvilla, Mehta shared that Shahid Kapoor was one of the first actors considered for the lead role. However, the Jab We Met actor turned down the offer. So, why did he say no?
Shahid Kapoor Said No to Shahid – Here’s Why
When Hansal Mehta pitched the idea of Shahid to producer Sunil Bohra, Bohra was convinced within five minutes that this was a movie worth making. Around that time, the idea of casting Shahid Kapoor came up.
However, Shahid Kapoor was not interested in doing a film like Shahid back then. According to Mehta, the Farzi actor simply wasn’t keen on such a serious role at that point in his career — and that’s completely understandable.
Other Bollywood Actors Were Also Considered
Before finalizing the lead actor, Hansal Mehta tried reaching out to several big names in the industry. Unfortunately, most of them didn’t even agree to meet him.
In Mehta’s own words, people in the film industry didn’t take him seriously back then. They remembered him as the director of Woodstock Villa, and no one had much faith in him. He even tried to schedule a meeting with Ranbir Kapoor to pitch the film but was unable to connect.
There was also another star kid who was approached for the role, but that didn’t work out either.
How Rajkummar Rao Landed the Lead Role in Shahid
Hansal Mehta was struggling to find the right actor until director Anurag Kashyap suggested he meet Rajkummar Rao, who had appeared in Gangs of Wasseypur.
As soon as Rajkummar walked into Mehta’s office, the director felt he had found the perfect Shahid. He was confident in his choice right away.
Despite the limited budget of just Rs. 35 lakh, Shahid went on to become a critically acclaimed film — all thanks to the powerful performance by Rajkummar Rao and Mehta’s direction.
What Is the Film Shahid About?
The film Shahid tells the real-life story of Shahid Azmi, a poor man who overcomes many struggles to become a lawyer. He defends innocent people who were falsely accused of terrorism. The movie shows his inspiring journey, from being arrested under false charges to becoming a voice for justice.
The cast also includes Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Prabhleen Sandhu, and Baljinder Kaur in supporting roles.
Shahid Movie Review and Ratings
When Shahid was released, it received a lot of love from both critics and audiences. The film was praised for its strong storytelling, acting, and direction.
Today, Shahid holds a solid rating of 8.2 out of 10 on IMDb, proving that good cinema doesn’t always need a big budget or a superstar.
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