After staying away from the big screen for nearly a decade, Bollywood actor Imran Khan is slowly finding his way back into the spotlight. Along with his return, the actor has also begun looking back at the early years of his career revealing some surprising films he almost starred in but ultimately missed out on.
The 43-year-old actor recently appeared in a cameo in Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos and spoke about his career journey in an interview. During the chat, he shared that several well-known filmmakers once considered him for major projects, including Delhi‑6, Chennai Express, and Bhavesh Joshi Superhero. However, due to timing, circumstances, and creative differences, those opportunities slipped away.
Imran Khan recalled that around 2006–07, before his debut in Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na, he had auditioned for director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s film Delhi-6. At that time, he was still a newcomer without any released films. According to him, the makers eventually decided not to take the risk of casting an untested actor in such a big project.
The role later went to Abhishek Bachchan but Imran admitted that he had strongly connected with the story and had hoped to be part of it. Having grown up between cultures, he felt he could relate to the film’s themes. Even years later, he believes it would have been a memorable project to work on. Still, he understands why the makers chose a more established actor for a film of that scale.
Another film that nearly had him in the lead was Bhavesh Joshi Superhero, directed by Vikramaditya Motwane. Imran revealed that he was associated with the project for almost a year. However, things changed after the disappointing box-office performance of his 2013 film Gori Tere Pyaar Mein. Following that setback, the makers replaced him with Harshvardhan Kapoor. Even so, Imran praised the final film for being bold and different, appreciating the effort to push boundaries in storytelling.
He also spoke about another big project he almost did – Chennai Express. Soon after Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na, director Rohit Shetty had approached him for the film. Imran said the discussions were enjoyable and the story sounded very entertaining. However, both he and the director eventually felt that their creative styles didn’t quite match for the project.
In fact, Imran Khan believes the film found its perfect lead in Shah Rukh Khan. He admitted that while the script was hilarious, he didn’t feel he would have been the right fit for the character and that Shah Rukh ultimately suited the role far better.
Despite these missed opportunities and past setbacks, Imran Khan remains positive about the future. The actor says he still hopes to collaborate with filmmakers whose work he admires. One director he particularly appreciates is Neeraj Ghaywan, whose films Masaan and Homebound impressed him with their emotional depth and authenticity.
Imran Khan believes that meaningful collaborations happen when an actor and director connect creatively. Since he and Neeraj Ghaywan already know each other socially and share mutual friends, he hinted that perhaps reaching out for a future project could be a possibility. For now, the actor seems ready to turn the page and focus on new opportunities ahead.
