Mansoor Khan’s 2000 film Josh, featuring Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai as siblings, may not have achieved massive box office success but it has held a lasting place in fans’ hearts. Known for its music, unique storyline and charismatic cast, the film has seen renewed appreciation over the years, especially for Shah Rukh’s standout performance as Max.
However, what many don’t know is that the film was originally envisioned with both Shah Rukh and Aamir Khan in mind.
In a candid interview, Mansoor Khan revealed that Aamir Khan, who had earlier worked with him in the 1992 hit Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, was initially approached for Josh. Mansoor had crafted the script with Aamir in mind for the romantic lead and Shah Rukh as the rebellious Max. But things got complicated when he narrated the story to Aamir Khan without assigning specific roles. Aamir Khan assumed he would be playing Max and began visualising himself in that part.
Faced with the dilemma, Mansoor decided not to clarify anything immediately and instead visited Shah Rukh Khan next. When he narrated the script to SRK, the actor was instantly drawn to it. According to Mansoor, Shah Rukh’s enthusiasm was evident, he began offering suggestions and brainstorming scenes for Max’s character during the very first meeting. Despite the actor’s visible excitement, he initially held back from committing, believing Aamir Khan had already been given the lead role. Mansoor Khan didn’t correct this misunderstanding at the time.
Eventually, Aamir Khan contacted Mansoor Khan to withdraw from the project. He expressed disinterest in playing the role, citing that he had already portrayed many romantic or light-hearted characters, including a tapori role in Rangeela, and was keen on breaking away from that mold. Aamir’s rejection cleared the path for Shah Rukh to officially take on the role of Max.
Looking back, Mansoor admitted that although Aamir had disliked the film when he first watched it, he himself had been too disheartened to revisit it for many years. It wasn’t until about eight years ago that he saw it again and found that it wasn’t as flawed as he had once believed. He even suggested to Aamir that he should watch it again with a fresh perspective, noting that time had healed earlier disappointments.
To this day, Mansoor stands by his decision, insisting that Shah Rukh Khan was always the perfect fit for Max. He believes SRK’s unique blend of charisma, humour and X factor gave life to the character in a way that no one else could have managed.
What is your opinion about movie Josh?
