- Shakrukh Khan, Darr, India, 1993. Punjab-born director Yash Chopra first requested Ajay – away on another movie. Aamir Khan refused, having disagreed with Chopra’s editing of his work in Parampara, 1992. And so, a new super Bollwyood star was born, soon simply known as SRK.
- Salman Khan, Karan Arjun, India, 1995. Ajay missed a first pairing with Kagol. She then complained about him being selected for her later Bollywood romance, Hulchul, 1999. They made the movie, became lovers, wed five years later and had a daughter, Nyasa.
- Abhishek Bachchan, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehnal, India, 2006. Both Ajay and his wife, Kajol, defected from India’s most expensive Hindi film ($15m) – starring Bachchan, pere et fils. Indeed, shooting was delayed due to Amitabh’s illness.
- 4Anil Kapoor, Race, India, 2008. The director brothers known collectively as Abbas-Mastan asked him to become Robert D’Costa. Too intense, said Ajay, not in the mood for an action thriller. Even one shot in South Africa.
- Madhaven, Teen Patti, India, 2009. When Arshad Warsi proved unavailable, he supplied a (cheaper) cameo. And so the handsome young Madhaven won his dream – co-starring with the iconic Amitabh Bachahan… and, in his Bollywood debut, Sir Ben Kinsgley.
- Saif Ali Khan, Aarakshan (Reservation), India, 2011. When Devgun’s dates didn’t gell, Saif took over Deepek and the most dialogue than he’d ever had – and in his far from fluent Hindi. He survived. The film, not so much.
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 7