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'His Wounds Were Still Fresh' Mansoor Khan Says Aamir Hated Josh; Wanted To Do SRK's Role

MENSXP | June 24, 2025 12:39 AM CST

Shah Rukh Khan starrer 2000 film Josh directed by Mansoor Khan released 25 years ago on June 9.

As the film completed its silver jubilee anniversary, its director Mansoor Khan opened up about the Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Chandrachur Singh and Sharad Kapoor starrer.

For a long time, there were reports that Aamir Khan wanted to do the role of Max eventually played by Shah Rukh Khan and refused to play the character offered to him that was played by Chandrachur Singh later.

Mansoor, who is Aamir Khan’s cousin brother, told Indian Express, “So after Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, I was looking for a script. And it was then I wrote a lot of Josh, and I had both Aamir and Shah Rukh in mind, Aamir for the romantic part, opposite whoever the actress would be, and Shah Rukh as Max. But when I narrated it to Aamir, I didn’t tell him who was supposed to play which role. So he started imagining that he’d be playing Max. I thought, “Oh no, now what do I do?” In my head, I was like, okay, don’t jump the gun. Let me go see what Shah Rukh says first. Not that I ever intended to give Max’s role to Aamir, honestly, I just wanted to see how the cards would fall.”

He added, “So I went to meet Shah Rukh and narrated the script to him. He really liked it. And by the end of the narration, he’d already started talking about the scenes, because his mind is very active. He was like, “Yeah, in that scene, Max can do this, and in that one, Max can do that.” And I thought, “Oh God, this guy also wants the same role” But anyway, I did want him for Max. So I asked, “Shah Rukh, are you doing the film?” And he said, “No, because I know Aamir will get Max’s role.” At that point, I didn’t really know how to respond. So I just left it there. I didn’t say anything.”

He continued, “But later on, Aamir himself said, “No, no, I don’t want to play this role.” He’d already done a lot of soft-boy, lover-boy parts. And he’d also done that tapori role in Rangeela, so he wanted to change his image. So he said no on his own. Anyway, in my mind, even to this day, there’s only one Max, and that’s Shah Rukh. He’s got that panache, the humour, and that underlying threat needed for the role. He is a charismatic guy.”

When asked how Aamir felt about the film after watching it, Mansoor revealed, “He saw it at that time and said he hated it. So I said, okay, fine. I was pretty disillusioned after that too. I didn’t watch it again for 15, maybe 17 years. I finally saw it about eight years ago, and honestly, I feel it’s not a bad film. I told Aamir, ‘You should see it now.’ I said, ‘See, back then, the wounds were still fresh.’”

About Josh

Josh was an adaptation of the musical West Side Story which itself was Inspired by William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet.

The film starred Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai as twin siblings, Chandrachur Singh and Sharad Kapoor as siblings. While SRK’s character Max and Sharad’s character Prakash were at war with each other via their respective gangs Eagle and Bichhoo, Aishwarya’s Shirley falls in love with Chandrachur’s Rahul.

Josh was made on a budget of Rs 16 crore and collected Rs 35.06 crore at the worldwide box office.

It was the last film directed by Mansoor Khan who earlier made Akele Hum Akele Tum (1995), Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander (1992) and his directorial debut Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988).