Not Arjun Rampal But This Bollywood Actor Almost Played The Role Of 'Mukesh Mehra' In 'Om Shanti Om'

Iconic 2007 release, Om Shanti Om, is beloved for many reasons. From launching Deepika Padukone to being the first film to have multiple cameos,  it seems to have revolutionised the industry. However, the cultural impact of the film has spilt into everyday life as well, with people still dropping the iconic dialogues in casual conversation.

Given the legacy the film has left behind, picturing anyone but the cast playing the iconic characters is near impossible. However, the truth is iconic villain ‘Mukesh Mehra’ was very nearly played by someone other than Arjun Rampal. That actor was Vivek Oberoi.

Farah Khan faced rejection after rejection when pitching the villainous role of ‘Mukesh Mehra’

One of the most iconic villains to ever grace the silver screen in Bollywood is 'Mukesh Mehra'. He may have always looked the perfect gentleman, but he was anything but perfect. Meeting a villain like him was a first for the audience flocking to the theatres. However, the director of the film, Farah Khan, revealed that casting for the ruthless character proved a massive challenge.

In an interview, she candidly talked of several actors rejecting the role. So much so that the film had no villain by December 31, 2006, despite filming set to start on January 6, 2007. Farah explained the reason behind the struggle to The Times of India:

“Casting for the role of Mukesh Mehra was the most difficult as it was a completely negative role, there was nothing positive about him.”

Farah Khan on her expectations of the perfect ‘Mukesh Mehra’

‘Mukesh Mehra’s’ suave style has garnered its own renown with his dapper suits and thin moustache firmly imprinted in memory. But the team also had certain expectations of his physical appearance. In conversation with Komal Nahata, Farah expressed her desire for Deepika’s love interest to be a good-looking man, a sentiment shared by Shah Rukh as well. 

“He can’t be Prakash Raj. He has to look like a hero.”

Gone were the days of the typical villain who looked just as menacing as his personality. Farah was on a mission to start a new age of antagonists whose charming features perfectly masked their conniving ways. Elaborating further on the team's vision for the perfect 'Mukesh Mehra', she told The Times of India:

“We were looking for someone conventionally good-looking and probably even better-looking than Shah Rukh Khan.”

When Vivek Oberoi rejected the antagonist role in Om Shanti Om

Despite openly admitting that Arjun Rampal wasn’t the first choice for the sinister part, Farah has never named the actors who refused the role. However, Saathiya star, Vivek Oberoi has opened up about rejecting the part in the past. As per a Huffington Post report, Vivek was offered the role before Arjun. However, the former didn’t want to act in a negative role, having already played one in Company. Apoorva Lakhia’s Shootout at Lokhandwala came Vivek’s way around the same time, and he decided to star in it instead.

Fans had an opportunity to ask the star questions in a Bollywood Hungama interview, and one chose to bring up the rejected film. He asked Vivek why he refused Om Shanti Om when it could have been a huge career boost, especially given his stellar acting chops. He kept his answer tactful and said that he believed in looking forward once decisions had already been made.

“You can’t go back and change those decisions. So you learn what you learn from that and you move forward. And you make the right decisions when you go forward.”

The hilarious story behind Arjun Rampal’s casting

With filming to start in barely a week, Shah Rukh and Farah were desperate to find their villain. That’s when they ran into Arjun Rampal at Shah Rukh’s New Year’s Eve party. While speaking with Komal, Farah shared the humorous story of how they caught Arjun to pitch him the role. Shah Rukh and she trapped Arjun in a bathroom, quite literally, to relate the story to him. However, he initially said no to the role just like everyone else. Farah told Komal why:

“He thought the character was too villainous, especially with scenes like burning the girl.” 

Shah Rukh refused to give up and eventually convinced Arjun. The latter joined the cast a mere two days before the costume fittings began. Arjun spoke of the conversation in an interview with The Times of India.

“One day Shah Rukh asked me to visit him on the set, sat me down and explained to me wonderfully to trust him and Farah and they would not let me down and I’m glad I trusted both of them.”

Vivek Oberoi claims he has no regrets about the roles he rejected

Om Shanti Om is far from the only blockbuster Vivek is known to have rejected. He has talked about refusing lead roles in Munnabhai MBBS, Hum Tum, and Bunty or Bubli for various reasons. The roles eventually went to Sanjay Dutt, Saif Ali Khan, and Abhishek Bachchan, respectively. The actor has no qualms about accepting that he has made good and bad decisions work-wise. However, he also appears to have no regrets regarding those decisions. He said: 

“For the 10-odd films I let go which succeeded, there were 70 or 80 films that I let go off which failed and bombed at the box office.”

What do you think of Farah and Vivek’s revelations? Let us know.

Also Read: Sridevi Got Upset With Boney Kapoor When He Went To Meet His First Wife And Kids, 'How Can You...'

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