RGV Shares Insights on Casting Ajay Devgn Over Shah Rukh in Company

In the acclaimed gangster film Company, Ajay Devgn's performance under Ram Gopal Varma was notable. Interestingly, Varma revealed that Shah Rukh Khan was originally considered for the lead role. Although SRK expressed interest, Varma believed his energetic persona wouldn't align with the character's subtlety.

Varma stated, “I instinctively thought of Shah Rukh for the role. After pitching the story to him, it was clear he was intrigued. Yet, his vibrant energy and dynamic body language were at odds with the character's essence—a calm, contemplative individual. Making Shah Rukh tone down would be unfair to him and the film’s vision.”

He continued, “There are performers and there are actors, each with distinct styles. Shah Rukh's strengths shine in roles meant for him. I realized during our meeting that he wasn't the right fit for Malik's character, although I never shared that with him.”

After their discussion, RGV quickly approached Ajay Devgn for the role. For another character, Abhishek Bachchan was eyed initially, but due to scheduling issues, Vivek Oberoi stepped in as Chandrakant 'Chandru' Nagre.

Company, scripted by Jaideep Sahni and starring Mohanlal, Ajay Devgn, Vivek Oberoi, Manisha Koirala, Antara Mali, and Seema Biswas, served as the second installment in Varma's gangster trilogy, following Satya (1998). The film marked Mohanlal’s debut in Hindi cinema and did well at the box office, earning ₹25.02 crore against a budget of ₹9.5 crore.

Looking to the future, RGV is collaborating with Manoj Bajpayee in a new horror-comedy titled Police Station Mein Bhoot. He hinted, “We rely on the police in fearful situations, but what happens when they encounter fear themselves? A haunted police station turns into a gripping tale of officers fleeing from spectral apparitions of gangsters.” More details on the cast and release timeline are forthcoming.