The Role That Wasn’t: Salman Khan and the Making of Chak De India

Shimit Amin’s film, universally known as Chak De India, premiered on August 10, 2007, and was not initially expected to achieve the massive success it did. The initial trailer, showcasing the members of Shah Rukh Khan’s hockey team, was poorly received. However, the film went on to become a major hit. Originally, Salman Khan was the first choice to play the role of coach Kabir Khan in Shimit Amin’s Chak De India. Several theories explain Salman Khan’s departure from the project. One theory suggests that financial disagreements with producer Aditya Chopra led to the actor’s exit, with the two not collaborating until Ek Tha Tiger. Another theory indicates that Salman Khan sought script modifications that Director Shimit Amin declined. Subsequently, Shah Rukh Khan stepped in, and the rest is history. Shah Rukh Khan’s personal experience with hockey, cultivated during his college years, remained a significant connection to the sport.