Shekhar kapur's 'Mr India' is one of the most loved films in Bollywood. So much so, that the film has received a cult status over the years. It starred Anil Kapoor, Sridevi and Amrish Puri in lead roles.
However, did you know that it was not Anil Kapoor but Amitabh Bachchan who was approached first for the Shekhar Kapur directorial? Yes, you read that right! In an interview with ETimes, Boney Kapoor had revealed that the film was initially supposed to be directed by Ramesh Sippy and was first planned with Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role.
Explaining the rationale behind the change of plans, Kapoor disclosed that following the successful launch of his brother Anil Kapoor in the film 'Woh Saat Din', he expressed a desire to collaborate once more with the film's director, Bapu. However, considering that 'Woh Saat Din' was a remake, the producer was reluctant to pursue a similar project. Consequently, Kapoor engaged the services of writer Javed Akhtar to craft a fresh script. Regrettably, Bapu's eagerness got the best of him, leading to the project's untimely cancellation.
Talking about how Anil Kapoor was finalised for the lead role in the film, Boney said, “I had heard the story of 'Mr India' after 'Woh Saat Din'. Javed Akhtar saab, Naresh Goyal, and I were supposed to make 'Mr India' with Ramesh Sippy as the director and Amitabh Bachchan as the hero. But it didn’t work out. So, once when Javed saab and I were sitting, I said, 'Let’s do this picture.' He said, 'It’s an expensive picture. GP Sippy was in two minds to make it with Amitabh Bachchan. How can you make it with Anil Kapoor?”
Elaborating further, the producer added, "But despite opinion clashes, Boney went ahead with it and ended up making the most advantageous decision of his life. He divulged, "I said that we will make it. In those times, when big films with top stars were mounted with 1 and 1.5 crores, I made a film for 3 crore and 20 lakh rupees. I was 80 lakhs deficit on release, but in the first year itself, I got the money and name, and the film is remembered even today."
'Mr India' emerged as a commercial success and ended up being the second highest-grossing film of 1987.