THIS Shah Rukh Khan movie was rejected by 4 top actresses, became India's official entry to Oscars, its budget was...; its box office collection was...

It is a dream for any star to work with Shah Rukh Khan. However, King Khan once faced rejection for 4 actresses for his critically acclaimed film.

By: Nikita Thakkar | Published: May 11 2025, 11:29 AM IST

Shah Rukh Khan - King of masses

Shah Rukh Khan has been entertaining the masses for over three decades. From Darr to Kuch Kuch Hota Hai to Don, he has performed various characters that have become extremely iconic. While he is the King of Massy films, he has also done some content-driven roles that have brought critical acclaim. Here's talking about one such film of Shah Rukh Khan that received critical acclaim but was rejected by 4 top actresses.

All about Paheli

The movie is Paheli. The movie directed by Amol Palekar released in 2005. It was a fantasy film starring Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji in lead roles. The film was produced by Gauri Khan. The supporting cast included Anupam Kher, Amitabh Bachchan, Juhi Chawla and Suniel Shetty.

Story of Paheli

The story revolved around a woman named Lachchi. Her husband went on a business trip. A ghost then visits her disguised as her husband. The ghost then falls in love with her.

Actresses rejected Paheli

If reports are to be believed, four top actresses rejected the role of Lachchi. Actresses like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Tabu, Kajol and Sushmita Sen were allegedly offered the role that was later played by Rani Mukerji.

Budget of Paheli

As per the reports, Paheli was made on a budget of Rs 14 crore. Shah Rukh Khan did not leave any stone unturned to make this film as beautiful and authentic as possible. Most of the scenes were shot in Rajasthan while some were shot in Mumbai.

Special scene with Amitabh Bachchan

Reports suggest that Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan's scene was shot on a helipad in Mumbai. Production designer Muneesh Sappel once revealed that almost 400 trucks of sand were called to create Thar desert like backdrop for the film in Mumbai. Shah Rukh Khan reportedly spent Rs 2 crore over this scene.

Paheli box office report

While Paheli received huge critical acclaim, it did not perform so well at the box office. As per reports, the movie made around Rs 32 crore of worldwide business.

Journey to Oscars

In 2006, Paheli became India's official entry to the Oscars in the Best Foreign Film category. However, it did not get nominated. But the news did create massive buzz around the film.