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In the ever-evolving world of Bollywood numerous key factors contribute to the creation of a film. From multiple delays location changes and time alignment sometimes a movie finds its fate in the most unlikely places. But out of all the elements that can make or break the films success at the box office casting is the most important factor. It holds paramount importance. Imagine your favourite film with an entirely different cast. Would it still look the same to you? But in Bollywood fate often rewrites scripts more often than the screenwriter. What might at first seem a chaos would be destinys way of lining up things in perfection and sometimes what is one actors rejection first is another actors revival. One such story is of the film Jaanwar. Released in the year 1999 this emotional action-packed film was a major hit which also redefined Akshay Kumars career. But what many people dont know is that the filmmaker didnt imagine Akshay Kumar for the lead role initially. In an interview Jaanwars filmmaker Suneel Darshan revealed the casting reshuffle story of the film. Suneels first choice for the lead role was Sunny Deol not Akshay Kumar. Sunny and Suneel were all set to collaborate for the film; however due to a sudden fallout between the two this partnership couldnt go ahead. We were nearly set to go ahead when we had a fallout over some very ugly issues. Those issues are still pending. So I decided to move forward and find someone else he shared. After Sunny Deol the filmmakers next choice was Ajay Devgan who was a leading star at that point of time however even that didnt turn out as imagined. “Ajay and I met on a Saturday and agreed on the film. We were supposed to finalise everything that Monday but Sunday changed everything.” Destiny had other plans and the film eventually went to the actor whose fate was destined for it. In a turn of events Suneel got a call from one of the top leading stars of today. “It was from someone I had never met before Akshay Kumar” Darshan revealed. “He was very keen to meet immediately. I invited him over and he said he wanted to do Jaanwar. He asked me ‘Would you consider making the film with me?’” Darshan was initially sceptical. “I knew I couldn’t make money on his name then but I believed in my ability to bring out his potential. I felt we’d strike a good rapport—and that would reflect on screen.” However it was Akshay’s honesty and attitude that convinced the director. Darshan added “Akshay was going through the worst phase of his career at the time. But I thought ‘Here’s a good-looking disciplined actor willing to give 100% of himself.’ He even told me ‘Sir I will offer you 100% of myself.’ That stayed with me.” Despite being aware of Akshays low graph at the box office during that time Darshan played all his bets and followed his instincts which eventually paid off. Meanwhile the female lead of Jaanwar also changed. It was Kajol who was first chosen to star opposite her then-boyfriend Ajay Devgn. However she also had to back out because of her wedding plans “Tanuja ji called and informed me that it would be difficult for Kajol to do the film. I appreciated her honesty and professionalism” Darshan shared. Later Karisma Kapoor quickly agreed to step in and Shilpa Shetty further completed the final cast. Besides being a hit commercially and critically Jaanwar was a film that changed Akshay Kumars career trajectory. The film showcased Akshay Kumar as a versatile actor as it helped him break free from his typecast action-hero image. After multiple cast re-shuffles the film eventually went on to who was destined for it proving that some casting decisions are not made by filmmakers but the fate itself.