Aamir Khan Almost Rejected Dangal, Thought Shah Rukh and Salman Khan Were Plotting to Oust Him

Aamir Khan reveals he initially declined Dangal, joking that SRK and Salman might have sent Nitesh Tiwari to sabotage his career. What followed became a historic milestone in Indian cinema

March 25, 2025: Aamir Khan’s Dangal may be one of the biggest blockbusters in Indian cinema, but it almost never happened. In a recent podcast appearance on Just Too Filmy, the actor revealed he initially turned down the role of wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat—albeit for a reason both hilarious and unexpected.

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“When Nitesh Tiwari narrated Dangal to me, I told him it was a brilliant script,” Aamir recalled. “But I had just finished Dhoom 3 and was in peak physical shape with 9.67% body fat. He wanted me to play a 55-year-old with a potbelly! For a moment, I wondered—has Shah Rukh or Salman sent him to end my career?” he said, laughing.

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Aamir admitted he initially told Tiwari to “come back in 10-15 years,” and surprisingly, the director agreed. But as time passed, the idea grew on Aamir, and eventually, he took the plunge—one that turned into a defining moment of his career.

Released in 2016, Dangal not only received widespread acclaim but also went on to collect ₹2,000 crore globally, making it the highest-grossing Hindi film of the year.

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The actor, now 60, emphasized that his career choices are purely instinct-driven. “I never follow trends,” he explained. “I just go with what moves me. If a story resonates with me as a human, I believe the audience will feel the same.”

Aamir is currently gearing up for his next film Sitaare Zameen Par, described as a spiritual successor to Taare Zameen Par. The film will mark his return to the big screen after a three-year hiatus.

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