Deepak Tijori reveals missed opportunity to play lead role in Mahesh Bhatt's film; says it was Mukesh Bhatt’s decision

Deepak Tijori, known for his memorable roles in iconic films like 'Aashiqui', 'Khiladi', and 'Sadak', recently opened up about a missed opportunity that could have changed his career path.

In a candid interview with the Indian Express, Deepak revealed how he almost secured a lead role in a film directed by Mahesh Bhatt, only for the project to be scrapped because of Mukesh Bhatt's hesitation to cast him as the lead.


Deepak Tijori shared that Mahesh had envisioned him as the protagonist in an emotional film titled 'Adhure Log', which centred around the life of an usher. After a successful photo shoot, Bhatt was convinced that Tijori was perfect for the role and was ready to move forward with him as the lead. “I was finally feeling the taste of playing a lead role in a film directed by my dream director, Mahesh Bhatt,” he recalled.

However, Deepak Tijori's aspirations were dashed when Mukesh, the producer, intervened. He claimed that Mukesh had his doubts about casting him in the lead role, stating, “Everyone likes Deepak as a supporting character, so I don’t think I can risk giving him the lead role. If you want to make the story then take a new boy, but not Deepak.”

The decision left Deepak devastated, as it shattered his hopes of becoming a leading man in Bollywood. “It shook my belief from within,” he said, reflecting on how stars like Amitabh Bachchan and Mithun Chakraborty had risen from smaller roles to become superstars, but felt his dreams were cut short by Mukesh's decision.

Despite this setback, Tijori continued his career, making his directorial debut with 'Oops!'