Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma recently disclosed that he didn’t initially envision Ajay Devgn and Vivek Oberoi in the lead roles for his 2002 gangster drama Company. In a video shared on his YouTube channel, RGV revisited his film and shared insights into the casting process.
RGV revealed that he had approached Shah Rukh Khan to portray the character inspired by underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.“I met Shah Rukh, and he was excited about the role. However, his energetic persona and hyperactive style made it challenging to envision him as the subtle and silent Dawood. I felt his body language wasn’t right for the part, so I didn’t pursue it further,” he explained.
For the role of Chhota Rajan‘s character, Varma initially considered Abhishek Bachchan. However, Abhishek was unavailable due to other commitments. The role eventually went to Vivek Oberoi, who delivered a memorable performance as Chandu.
RGV revealed that he had approached Shah Rukh Khan to portray the character inspired by underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.“I met Shah Rukh, and he was excited about the role. However, his energetic persona and hyperactive style made it challenging to envision him as the subtle and silent Dawood. I felt his body language wasn’t right for the part, so I didn’t pursue it further,” he explained.
For the role of Chhota Rajan‘s character, Varma initially considered Abhishek Bachchan. However, Abhishek was unavailable due to other commitments. The role eventually went to Vivek Oberoi, who delivered a memorable performance as Chandu.
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Additionally, the role of the Mumbai police commissioner, which was ultimately played by Mohanlal, was first intended for Kamal Haasan. “I met Kamal for the role, but similar to Shah Rukh, his natural stardom seemed out of place in the realistic setting of Company. That’s when I decided to approach Mohanlal,” Varma said.
Company is the second installment in Varma’s trilogy of gangster films, which began with Satya and continued with D, directed by Vishram Sawant. While Shah Rukh Khan later took on a gangster role in Raees, the film received mixed reviews and did not perform as expected at the box office.