Rishi Kapoor’s flop film inspired this director; 27 years later, he made a blockbuster, it earned Rs…, movie is…
Bollywood rarely witnesses a film that transforms a flop story into a box-office marvel. Yet, 18 years after Subhash Ghai’s Karz (1980) failed to impress audiences, choreographer-turned-director Farah Khan reimagined it into a cinematic triumph. Om Shanti Om. Released in 2007, the reincarnation drama starring Shah Rukh Khan and debutante Deepika Padukone became one of the biggest hits of its time.
The film, written by Farah Khan and Mushtaq Sheikh, was produced under Shah Rukh’s Red Chillies Entertainment by Gauri Khan. It featured an ensemble including Arjun Rampal, Shreyas Talpade, and Kirron Kher. The movie marked Farah’s second collaboration with SRK after Main Hoon Na and introduced Bollywood to a new star, Deepika Padukone.
Om Shanti Om grossed approximately Rs 152 crore worldwide against a budget of Rs 40 crore, with a net Indian collection of Rs 79.50 crore and significant overseas earnings.
How did Deepika bag Om Shanti Om?
In one of her candid interviews, Farah Khan revealed how Deepika landed the role that made her a household name. “There was no audition for Om Shanti Om. We only did a look test at Mehboob Studio. She was very nervous and her voice had a strong South Indian accent. When I watched her test, I used to mute the sound and focus only on her face. Her dancing style and aura reminded me of Hema Malini. We even called her our dream girl during the test,” Farah recalled.
Deepika, too, has often spoken about how supportive Farah and Shah Rukh were during her early days. “I was very nervous, but both Shah Rukh and Farah made me feel so comfortable. Farah was particular about my look and close-up shots. Working with them made everything easier for me. Somewhere, she noticed that I could express through my dialogues,” Deepika once shared.
Why did Farah choose Deepika over top heroines?
Interestingly, Farah admitted that even she was surprised by her own casting choice. “I don’t know why I chose Deepika when so many big heroines were after the role. A director’s choice is always instinctive. Later, you wonder why you picked that person, but then, they just work for the film,” she said.
That instinct turned out to be golden, Deepika’s performance as Shantipriya and Sandhya captivated the audience, setting the tone for her successful Bollywood journey.
Arjun Rampal’s casting: A bathroom decision!
Farah also shared a quirky behind-the-scenes moment about Arjun Rampal’s casting as the antagonist Mukesh Mehra. “We were in a fix. Many actors refused the role. The shoot was set to start on January 6, and the sets were ready. During a New Year’s Eve party at Shah Rukh’s house, we met Arjun. I literally locked him in the bathroom and narrated the story. At first, he refused — he didn’t want to play a villain who burns the heroine alive. But after Shah Rukh spoke to him again, he finally agreed,” Farah revealed.
The star-studded “Deewangi” song that missed a few big names
One of the film’s highlights was the song “Deewangi Deewangi”, featuring 31 Bollywood stars in cameo appearances. However, several celebrities skipped it for interesting reasons. On The Kapil Sharma Show, Farah revealed, “Raveena Tandon was pregnant, so she couldn’t come. Dev Anand said he had never done guest appearances. Amitabh Bachchan was busy with Abhishek and Aishwarya’s wedding. Even Aamir Khan and Ajay Devgn didn’t make it.”
Despite this, the shoot was a grand affair, with stars arriving in batches and Shah Rukh personally welcoming everyone on set.
When a joke turned into a legal case
The movie, set partly in the 1970s, humorously referenced several iconic film styles, but one such parody didn’t go well. Actor Manoj Kumar was reportedly offended by a scene mocking his style and even filed a legal case against the makers.
A full-circle success story
Made on a budget of around Rs 40 crore, Om Shanti Om grossed over Rs 149 crore worldwide, making it a blockbuster. It had everything, comedy, drama, romance, and suspense, wrapped in Farah Khan’s trademark grandeur. The film’s music by Vishal–Shekhar, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar, became a cultural sensation.
Today, Om Shanti Om stands as a cult classic, a film that not only revived a forgotten story but also launched an icon and redefined Bollywood’s masala magic for a new generation.
Highlights:
- Om Shanti Om was inspired by Subhash Ghai’s 1980 film Karz.
- Deepika Padukone’s voice was muted during her look test due to her strong accent.
- Arjun Rampal was cast after a spontaneous meeting at Shah Rukh Khan’s New Year party.
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