Director Rakesh Roshan‘s iconic 1995 film Karan Arjun, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. In the documentary The Roshans, Rakesh opened up about the film’s challenging production, revealing that both lead actors initially lost interest in the project.
Rakesh shared that Shah Rukh Khan didn’t believe in the film’s reincarnation concept, while Salman Khan had different expectations about the film’s setting. “Salman was like, ‘You said you’ll make a big movie. But you brought us here to a village in Rajasthan. I had some other imagination,’” he said. Both actors were reportedly reluctant to show up on set, causing delays in shooting.
Shatrughan Sinha supported Rakesh’s claims, saying Shah Rukh and Salman “tormented” him, often mocking him or refusing to cooperate. Shah Rukh himself admitted to their mischief, recalling their troublesome behavior on set. “We were like two young kids, really troubling a father figure,” he said, reflecting on their naughtiness.
Despite these challenges, Karan Arjun became a massive hit, with Shah Rukh and Salman surprised by the enthusiastic audience response. Shah Rukh recounted the clapping, whistling, and cheering from the audience, especially during a pivotal scene with the babies. He later apologized to Rakesh, saying, “I am sorry, I didn’t understand the film,” acknowledging the lessons he learned about connecting with the audience.
Ahead of the film’s re-release, Rakesh revealed that Shah Rukh had initially backed out of the project and was replaced by Aamir Khan. After Ajay Devgn also left, Salman Khan joined the film, and production resumed when Shah Rukh returned. Karan Arjun also marked a significant milestone as Rakesh’s son, Hrithik Roshan, worked as an assistant director on the film.
