Movies that Ajay Devgn rejected

Ajay devgn has been among the most versatile and sought after actors in Bollywood, for almost three decades now. He is known for his intensity, action-packed scenes and a knack for picking the most interesting and strong scripts. But even Ajay, who is a successful actor has let some of the blockbusters slip past him, movies that later another actor did and it became a pivotal role for them. It’s interesting to think what it could have been with him in the lead roles, but his choices have shaped a creative and unique filmography. Here’s a list of 5 movies that Ajay Devgn has rejected.

Ajay Devgn was offered the role of Karan, in the famous cult classic movie 'Karan Arjun.' In the 90s, the concept of reincarnation-revenge dramas was a bit outdated. Ajay, who at the time was fully leaning into his action-hero persona, did not think it would suit his image. He did not find the idea of two brothers being reborn to avenge their mother very appealing or convincing from a performance standpoint. The role was later offered to Salman Khan and his dynamic performance alongside Shahrukh Khan has made the movie an all time favorite.

In the 90s, Ajay either did intense romantic leads and action hero roles. Rahul Mehra’s role in 'Darr' was of an obsessive stalker, a deeply unsettling and disturbed character. Ajay, like many other stars of the time, was uncertain to accept such a dark, ethically complex part, thinking it would harm his "hero" image. In the early 90s, it was still uncommon for leading men to play parts that made the audience hate or fear them. The role was later assigned to Shah Rukh Khan, and his portrayal of Rahul became of the famous villains in Bollywood.

Ajay was offered the role of Alauddin Khilji, a rakish and mad ruler, before Ranveer Singh was approached for the role. He declined the role because of his prior engagements. He was busy with the filming of 'Golmaal Again' and then later with 'Raid,' which clashed with Padmaavat’s shooting schedule. Ajay has always chosen patriotic and grounded characters over larger-tan-life roles. Later the movie and role were offered to Ranveer Singh, whose performance of Alauddin was widely praised among critics and fans alike.

When Ajay was offered the role of Bajirao Peshwa for the movie, 'Bajirao Mastani,' he discussed about it with director, Bhansali quite a lot, but at last, they could not see eye to eye on the vision and direction of the film. He was also filming 'Drishyam' and 'Shivay' at that time, which made him even more convinced to say no to the film. Later, Ranveer stepped in as Bajirao and the film became of his most hit movies.

Ajay was offered the role of the main villain and a bike thief, which he refused to do. 'Dhoom' was an experimental project, it was flashy, stylish and focused more on the villain rather than the hero. At that time Ajay was establishing himself as a pretty serious character and leaning towards more grounded and gritty movies, Dhoom’s flashy nature and action packed stylish role did not align with his image.