The 2003 blockbuster Kal Ho Naa Ho, starring Shah Rukh Khan, remains a fan favorite even today. However, few know that the iconic actor once considered quitting the film and even suggested Salman Khan as his replacement.
Filmmaker Nikkhil Advani revealed this surprising anecdote during an interview. He shared, “After shooting just one scene, Shah Rukh called us and said, ‘Yaar mere se nahi hoga, aap log ek kaam karo. Main Salman ko phone karta hu, Salman ke saath bana do.’” (I can’t do this. You guys do one thing: I’ll call Salman, and you can make the film with him.)
The reason behind Shah Rukh’s hesitation was a severe back issue that required immediate attention. He had to fly to Germany for surgery, followed by a six-month recovery period. Concerned about delaying the film, he urged the makers to move ahead without him.
Despite the setback, director Nikkhil Advani and producer Karan Johar chose to stand by Shah Rukh Khan. They decided to pause the production until his recovery. True to their commitment, filming resumed six months later when SRK returned to the set, fully healed.
