SRK Almost Played N Mallik in Company; Ajay Devgn Took the Role, RGV Explains Why

Ajay Devgn’s performance as N Mallik in Ram Gopal Varma’s 2002 gangster drama Company is widely remembered, but the role was originally offered to Shah Rukh Khan. In a recent conversation with Siddharth Kannan, RGV revealed why the superstar did not ultimately take the part.

“My first instinct was to cast Shah Rukh Khan,” RGV explained. “I narrated the story to him, and he was interested. But I felt Shah Rukh has this natural energy, very dynamic and expressive, almost like a live wire. The character of N Mallik required a subtle, laid-back, and cold-minded persona. I thought SRK’s natural energy would work against the role. Casting him would have been unfair to both him and the film.”

RGV elaborated that the distinction was about acting styles rather than talent. “There’s a performing actor and then there’s an actor. Shah Rukh should be left to roles that suit his style. Directors trying to fit him into a different type of character rarely works. Ajay Devgn, on the other hand, was naturally calm and perfectly suited for N Mallik. After meeting SRK, I realised it wouldn’t work, so I didn’t inform him, and immediately called Ajay to finalise the casting.”

For the character of Chandrakant “Chandru” Nagre, Abhishek Bachchan was initially considered but was unavailable due to other commitments. The role eventually went to newcomer Vivek Oberoi, marking his debut in Hindi cinema.

Company, written by Jaideep Sahni and starring Mohanlal, Ajay Devgn, Vivek Oberoi, Manisha Koirala, Antara Mali, and Seema Biswas, was a major success. Mohanlal made his Hindi film debut with this project. The film grossed Rs 25.02 crore against a budget of Rs 9.5 crore and became a defining entry in RGV’s gangster trilogy, following Satya (1998).

Looking ahead, RGV is reuniting with Manoj Bajpayee for his upcoming horror-comedy, Police Station Mein Bhoot. He shared, “We run to the police when scared, but where will the police run to when they get scared? After a deadly encounter, a police station becomes haunted, making all the cops run in fear from the ghosts of the gangsters.” The film’s release date and full cast details are yet to be announced.

RGV’s revelations provide rare insight into the casting decisions that shaped one of Bollywood’s iconic gangster films, highlighting the fine balance between actor persona and character requirements in Indian cinema.