1. – Jackie Shroff, Hero, India, 1983. Sanjay’s drug habit greatly interferred with the early days of his career – plus jail time for possession of weapons. When he got out, his career took off.
2. – Nagarjuna, Khuda Gawah, India, 1992. He actually started playing Inspector Raja Mirza – then suddenly handed in his badge.
3. – Anil Kapoor, Trimurti, India, 1995. He shot some scenes as Anand and then had to leave – to go to jail! (Ironically, the film was about the heroine being imprisoned). Sunny Deol didn’t fancy succeeding him and Kapoor jumped into superstar Shahrukh Khan’s drama.
4. – Akshaye Khanna, Deewangee, India, 2002. The lawyer and the beauty (Karisma Kapoor) changed between the planning and production of the Bollywood version of Primal Fear, 1996.
5. – Moamar Rana, Dobara, India, 2004. When Sanja was unavailable, Rana but flew in from Pakistan to help out.
6. – Shahid Kapur, Vaah! Life Ho Tohg Aisil, Indian, 2005. Director Mahesh Manjrekar first attempted to make the film in 1995 with – obviously – Amitabh Bachchan as God, or a God called Yama, giving Sanjay Dutt’s rich Adi Chachu a second chance in life. A decade later, Dutt was promoted to the deity with Kapoor as Adi.
7. – Emran Hashmi, Gangster, India, 2006. Based on the life and crimes of Mumbai crooks Abu Salim and his dancer lover Monica Bedi. And her next lover.
8. – Suman, Sivaji, India, 2007. After director S Shankafr lost two of his previous stars, Raj and Aishwarya Rai, to busy schedules, the casting of Sivaji began to match that of a Bond film. Seven stars jostled for the titular gangster’s moll, six more for the major dance number, two for the crook’s Mama (Uncle, actually)… and five guys fought for Adisesha – from Nana Patekar to the mighty Amitabh Bachchan.
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 8