The film was directed by Danny Boyle.
Initially, Shah Rukh was on board for the film, even collaborating on the script with the director. However, he eventually declined the role.
Late Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan left this world in 2020 but his memory continues to thrive in the hearts of his fans. In 2009, one of his films even created ripples at the Oscars. Released on January 23, 2009, Slumdog Millionaire achieved acclaim not only in India but globally, earning international recognition. Directed by Danny Boyle, it’s worth noting that Anil Kapoor’s character, Prem Kumar, was originally offered to Shah Rukh Khan.
Initially, the superstar was on board for the project, even collaborating on the script with the director. However, he eventually declined the role, citing his reservations about the character of Prem, finding it to be rather unscrupulous and deceitful.
In 2010, Shah Rukh Khan shared this revelation during the promotion of his movie My Name is Khan on Jonathan Ross’ chat show. He said, “Danny and I are good friends, and we even collaborated on a project. I was initially interested in the film due to its intriguing theme. However, I declined the role because the character of the host seemed somewhat deceptive.” Notably, Shah Rukh had previously hosted the quiz-based reality show Kaun Banega Crorepati, which is why the director of Slumdog Millionaire had considered him for the role.
In 2009, India celebrated a historic moment by winning not just one, but two Oscars for Slumdog Millionaire. AR Rahman, in particular, made headlines, and his acceptance speeches from both awards are still widely shared. India was recently anticipating the fate of RRR at the Oscars in 2023 and the song Naatu Naatu won the Best Song award. Leading up to this, AR Rahman offered a behind-the-scenes look into his Oscars acceptance speeches. He noted that a specific line about choosing love and hate didn’t resonate well with the audience, although his intention had always been pure.
Slumdog Millionaire won many Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. It minted Rs 3,145 crore at the box office.
The movie lead Irrfan Khan was a versatile star who made a significant impact not only in Bollywood but also in Hollywood, with notable roles in films like Inferno, Life of Pi and Jurassic World, alongside his stellar performances in numerous Bollywood hits. His acting prowess garnered admiration not just from Indian viewers but also from a global audience.
