Suppose you wake up one day and are asked, “Do you want to run the state for 24 hours?” Most of us would laugh and say no, but cinema makes the impossible look magical. That’s exactly what Anil Kapoor starrer ‘Nayak: The Real Hero’ did when it hit theatres back in 2001. And now, the film has turned 24 years old.
Anil Kapoor, who played the unforgettable role of Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, marked the occasion with a heartfelt note on Instagram.
But he also revealed something that surprised everyone. He was not the first choice for the role.
“Some roles define you. ‘Nayak’ was one of them. First offered to Aamir & Shah Rukh, but I knew I had to live this character… and I’m grateful Shankar sir trusted me,” Anil wrote, sharing a set of throwback photos from the film.
Kapoor also recalled a moment that is clearly etched in his memory. He remembered Shah Rukh Khan once praising his performance.
“I’ll always cherish Shah Rukh’s words on that stage: ‘This role was meant for Anil.’ Moments like these stay forever,” he added. Alongside his message, he shared pictures of himself in iconic scenes from the movie, as well as snaps with SRK from old media events.
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Directed by ace filmmaker S. Shankar, ‘Nayak’ might not have set the box office on fire when it released, but time turned it into a cult classic. For many, the story of a simple TV reporter suddenly stepping into the shoes of a chief minister for a single day was both thrilling and inspiring.
Other casts of the movie included Amrish Puri as the menacing politician, Rani Mukerji as the love interest. It also had comic relief from Johny Lever. Paresh Rawal, Saurabh Shukla, and Shivaji Satam delivered memorable performances.