PK continues to stand tall among the most celebrated collaborations between Aamir Khan and Rajkumar Hirani, exploring the complexities of religion, caste, and societal expectations through the lens of an alien’s bewilderment. Co-written by Hirani and Abhijat Joshi, the 2014 release became an instant classic. Yet, few recall that two years prior, another film — Umesh Shukla’s OMG: Oh My God!, led by Paresh Rawal — had already delved into strikingly similar territory, winning audiences across India.
The lesser-known connection between the two films recently resurfaced during an interview of Paresh Rawal. The veteran actor revealed that the creative minds behind PK were regular attendees at performances of the Gujarati play Kanji Virudh Kanji, on which OMG was based.
“It was around the time PK was happening. Saumya Joshi, the brilliant Gujarati writer, would often be accompanied by his brother Abhijat and Raju Hirani. They attended almost every show,” Paresh shared. He further explained how the play’s dynamic nature — with dialogues and scenes constantly evolving — kept Hirani and Joshi coming back for updates. “Any new dialogue, they would come and check. Both are very good people, despite staying with Vidhu Vinod Chopra for so long,” he added with a cheeky smile.
Paresh Rawal did not hold back when speaking about his strained relationship with producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra, with whom he initially had high hopes of collaboration. “He started ignoring the people he began his career with after achieving success,” Paresh said candidly, reflecting a lingering disappointment.
Adding another layer of intrigue, Paresh revealed that he was originally considered for a key role in Munna Bhai MBBS — that of Dr. Asthana, which was ultimately played by Boman Irani. “I was supposed to do Munna Bhai. We were discussing remuneration. In my mind, I wanted ₹15 lakh, and coincidentally, Vidhu offered exactly that. But the way he said, ‘I’ll give you ₹15 lakh’ — with arrogance — irked me. So, out of principle, I demanded ₹50 lakh and refused to back down,” he disclosed. Interestingly, Paresh eventually played the same role in the Telugu remake Shankar Dada MBBS, starring Chiranjeevi.
Explaining his stance, Paresh emphasized that it was never the financial aspect that mattered most. “It was never about the money — it was about the approach,” he said. “Artistes are built differently. If you place a hand on my shoulder and ask nicely, I would do a film even for ₹1. But if you throw attitude, I won’t work even for crores.”
Despite their rocky history, time seemed to heal old wounds, and Paresh eventually worked again with Vidhu Vinod Chopra on Sanju, directed by Rajkumar Hirani.
Today, the National Award-winning actor remains a vibrant force in Indian cinema. Following his recent performance in The Storyteller, he is preparing for a string of exciting releases, including Housefull 5, Bhoot Bangla, Thama, and the eagerly awaited Hera Pheri 3.
