Why Shah Rukh Khan Backed Out Of Film With Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan

New Delhi: Superstar Shah Rukh Khan had backed out from director Subhash Ghai's war film in 2003, which the director had planned with two other superstars of Bollywood - Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan. Of the film, which was to be called Mother Land, Subhash Ghai told news agency PTI: "In 2003, I wanted to start a war film called Mother Land, where I had cast Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan. The script was ready and three songs were also recorded, but at the last minute Shah Rukh backed out." Subhash Ghai, who has previously worked with Shah Rukh in 1997's film Pardes, said that Shah Rukh wanted a solo hero project back then and hence the dream project could not go on floors, reports PTI.

Sharing his star-studded wish list for the film, Subhash Ghai further added, "Shah Rukh felt there are so many characters in the film. He wanted to do a solo hero film then, but mine was not. It was a story of Dilip saab, Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh. On my wish list were also Aishwarya Rai, Priety Zinta and Mahima Chaudhary for the film but that's destiny."

Subhai Ghai also told how Pardes, which was actress Mahima Chaudhary's debut film, took birth.

"Before Pardes, I had designed a film called Shikhar, featuring Jackie Shroff and Shah Rukh, where we were to cast a new girl. It was a love story with a war backdrop. We had done our muhurat too and recorded a song after signing A R Rahman. Ishq bina kya jeena yaaro (a song from Anil Kapoor, Akshaye Khanna and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's Taal) was a song from Shikhar," PTI quoted Subhash Ghai as saying.

After Pardes' became a blockbuster hit and received several awards, Subhash Ghai came up with another hit film, which was 1999's Taal. Anil Kapoor also won a Filmfare Award for his work in the film. Taal was also selected for 2005's Ebertfest: Roger Ebert's Film Festival and was screened during the 2014 International Film Festival of India.

Subhash Ghai has also worked with Shah Rukh in 1995's Trimurti, which didn't do well at the box office.

Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan is currently busy filming Aanand L Rai's yet-untitled film co-starring actresses Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma.

(With inputs from PTI)