- Vikas Sethi, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham… (US: Happiness & Tears), India, 2001. Not yet a star, Abraham was pleased with director Karan Johar’s offer but backed away from playing Robbie. Johar still called him back for two of his later productions: Kaal, 2005, and Dostana, 2008.
- Arjun Rampal, Asambhav, India, 2004. Chosen by director Rajiv Raj to be a sort of Bollywood, James Bollywood, in this actioner shot in Switzerland. Another ex-male model (and martial artist) filled in. This was 007 plus musical numbers, of course.
- Ashmit Patel, Naza, India, 2005. A superstar since Dhoom, 2004, he was too busy (making seven other films that year) to co-star with Meera, the Pakistani superstar and super model (she preferred modelling), the first from her country to crossover to Bollywood. Naza ripped off The Eyes of Laura Mars, 1978.
- Shiney Ahuja, Gangster, India, 2006. Based on the life and crimes of Muimbai crook Abu Salim and his dancer lover Monica Bedi. (After the film, Ahuja was in the same jail as Saslim – charged with alleged rape).
- R. Madhavan, Guru, India, 2007. Now, no time to play Shyam Saxena being into five films this year!
- Arjun Rampal, Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd, India, 2007. Delayed, due to the health of co-star (and Hindi megastar) Amitabh Bachchan while they made Babul.
- Akshaye Khanna, Race, India, 2008. The director brothers known collectively as Abbas-Mastan failed to convince him to play with his image and accept what he saw as a too negative role. So no South African locations for him!
- Abhishek Bachchan, Dostana, India, 2008. Three years earlier, Abhishek was offered Kunal with Saif Ali Khan as Sam before switching to Sam with John Abraham as Kunal – two guys playing gay to win a Miami apartment… and falling for gorgeous flat-mate Priyankja Chopra.
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 8