Abhinav Kashyap, the director of the blockbuster movie Dabangg, recently revealed in an interview that the first choice to play the iconic role of Chulbul Panday was not the superstar Salman Khan, but the versatile actor Randeep Hooda.
Dabangg, which released in 2010, became a huge commercial and critical success, catapulting Salman Khan to superstardom and establishing him as the quintessential ‘Dabangg’ cop. The movie was known for its action-packed scenes, catchy dialogues, and of course, the charismatic persona of Chulbul Panday. But it turns out that the role almost went to someone else.
In his interview, Abhinav Kashyap shared that he had initially approached Randeep Hooda for the role of Chulbul Panday. He revealed that Randeep was his first choice and he had even narrated the script to him. However, things didn’t work out and the role eventually went to Salman Khan. But Abhinav is grateful to Randeep for the insights he had provided during the script narration, which helped shape the character of Chulbul Panday.
Randeep Hooda, known for his intense and gritty performances, would have brought a different dimension to the character of Chulbul Panday. It is indeed interesting to imagine how the movie would have turned out if Randeep had played the lead role. But now, it’s hard to imagine anyone other than Salman Khan as Chulbul Panday.
It is not uncommon for directors to have a different actor in mind for a role before finalizing the lead. And sometimes, these alternate choices can leave us wondering about the what-ifs. But in this case, it seems like everything happened for the best. Dabangg became a blockbuster hit and Salman Khan’s portrayal of Chulbul Panday became iconic and was loved by the audience.
Randeep Hooda, on the other hand, has carved a niche for himself in the industry, delivering power-packed performances in movies like Highway, Sultan, and Sarbjit. He may not have played Chulbul Panday, but he has proved his mettle as an actor and continues to do so with each new project.
Abhinav Kashyap’s revelation has once again brought to light the fact that it takes a lot of research, brainstorming, and exploration to create a memorable character. Chulbul Panday may have been inspired by real-life cop Piyush Pandey, but it was the efforts put in by the director, actors, and the entire team that gave life to the character on screen.
The success of Dabangg not only established Salman Khan as the ‘Dabangg’ cop, but it also introduced the audience to the world of Chulbul Panday and his quirky mannerisms. The character became so popular that it spawned several sequels and a spin-off movie based on Chulbul’s origin story.
In the end, it doesn’t matter who the first choice was for the role of Chulbul Panday. What matters is the final product and how it has been etched in the minds of the audience. And we can all agree that Salman Khan’s portrayal of this lovable cop will always remain etched in our hearts.
Abhinav Kashyap’s revelation has given us a new perspective on the making of Dabangg and has certainly piqued our curiosity about the alternate timeline where Randeep Hooda played Chulbul Panday. It is a reminder that in the world of cinema, anything is possible and sometimes, the most unexpected choices can turn out to be the best.
As we eagerly wait for the release of Dabangg 3, let us take a moment to appreciate the efforts put in by the entire team of Dabangg. And who knows, we might just see Randeep Hooda playing a different character in the movie. Until then, let’s continue to celebrate the iconic character of Chulbul Panday and the talented actors who have brought him to life on the big screen.
