Did you know Shatrughan Sinha missed starring in Amitabh Bachchan's 'Deewaar' and 'Sholay' due to THIS reason?

Veteran Bollywood actor and seasoned politician Shatrughan Sinha has been admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. The 77-year-old star's son, Luv Sinha, confirmed the news, revealing that his father had been battling viral fever and weakness for the past few days. It is days after his daughter Sonakshi Sinha's interfaith wedding with actor Zaheer Iqbal that Shatrughan finds himself under medical care.
Shatrughan, known for his iconic roles in '70s and '80s classics like "Mere Apne," "Kalicharan," and "Dostana," recently clinched victory in the Lok Sabha polls from West Bengal's Asansol constituency, representing the Trinamool Congress. His political triumph was swiftly followed by the much-anticipated nuptials of his beloved daughter, Sonakshi, to her longtime co-star, Zaheer Iqbal.
Shatrugan was also rumored to have undergone minor surgery. However, Luv Sinha quashed those whispers, assuring the public that no such intervention had taken place. Instead, the focus remained on Shatrughan's health and his timely decision to seek medical attention.Meanwhile, Sonakshi and Zaheer were spotted leaving the hospital hand in hand.
In an old interview with Aajtak, Sinha once revealed that two iconic films namely 'Deewaar' and 'Sholay' were originally destined for him. However, due to scheduling conflicts, he had to reluctantly pass on these cinematic gems. The year was 1975, and Sinha, already a popular star, found himself torn between multiple film commitments.
'Deewaar', the gritty crime drama written by the legendary duo Salim-Javed, was first offered to Sinha. The script lay in his possession for six months, but creative differences led him to return it. The role eventually catapulted Amitabh Bachchan into the path of Indian cinema, cementing his status as the ‘angry young man.’ Meanwhile, Sholay, Ramesh Sippy’s magnum opus, beckoned to Sinha. The filmmaker wanted him to essay the iconic role that Amitabh would later immortalize. Yet, elusive dates and a phase of villainous roles prompted Sinha to decline. The result? Amitabh’s Gabbar Singh became a cultural phenomenon, and Sholay etched itself into Bollywood history.
While Sinha admits to regretting these missed opportunities, he takes solace in the fact that his friend Amitabh Bachchan stepped into the spotlight, becoming a national icon.
Shatrughan is a graduate from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune, Maharashtra. He later came to Mumbai to become an actor in the Hindi film industry in the 1960s.