'Raees' Producers Laughed at SRK Idea

Rahul Dholakia’s Raees became a turning point in Shah Rukh Khan’s career, showcasing his intense and brooding persona in a crime drama. In a recent interview Dholakia revealed that although the film was initially presented to various actors he always envisioned SRK in the lead role. 

While producers laughed at the idea, Dholakia persisted. Farhan Akhtar, after reading the script, decided to produce the film with his partner Ritesh Sidhwani. When asked for a shortlist of actors, Dholakia only suggested Shah Rukh Khan, confident that he was the perfect fit. 

Though Dholakia didn’t know Khan at the time, he attempted to contact him, but received no response initially. Dholakia also mentioned that he had approached Irrfan Khan for the role, but the actor declined, unwilling to have his character die in the film. Nawazuddin Siddiqui later expressed interest in the cop role, adding depth to the film’s casting.