Akshay Kumar, known for his busy film schedule since the beginning of his career, has a history of being involved in multiple projects annually. However, there were instances when the actor had to withdraw from films after starting production. A notable incident occurred 20 years ago when Akshay Kumar began filming, even shooting a song, but was later forced to leave the project. This abrupt departure led to Bobby Deol’s entry into the film.
The film in question was ‘Barsaat,’ released in 2005. Akshay Kumar was initially the top choice for the lead role, with Priyanka Chopra as the leading lady. Akshay and Priyanka had previously worked together in several successful films, and their on-screen pairing was popular with audiences. However, Akshay had to exit the film. He reportedly requested the director to replace Priyanka Chopra or he would have to leave the project.
The reason for Akshay’s decision stemmed from the rumors of his closeness with Priyanka Chopra, which were widely circulating at the time. There were reports of an alleged affair, causing significant tension in his personal life. His wife, Twinkle Khanna, was reportedly very upset by these rumors, leading to a strained situation and her leaving the house.
The internal turmoil affected Akshay Kumar’s work. Director Sunil Darshan revealed that the title track of the film had been shot with Akshay and Priyanka. However, when the director did not agree to replace Priyanka, Akshay chose to leave the film to maintain peace at home.
With Akshay Kumar out, ‘Barsaat’ fell into Bobby Deol’s lap. The makers had to reshoot the song with Bobby and Priyanka. Priyanka, who had only been in the film industry for a few years, won hearts with her performance. Her pairing with Bobby was also well-received. Bipasha Basu also played an important role in the film. ‘Barsaat,’ made on a budget of 10 crore, earned 20 crore at the box office. The film received praise from the audience.