In a recent interview, Imran Khan revealed that he was approached for a role in the 2013 Bollywood hit, "Chennai Express," but ultimately turned it down. The film, directed by Rohit Shetty, went on to star Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone in the lead roles and became a major commercial success.

Imran Khan, known for his roles in films like "Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na" and "I Hate Luv Storys," shared that the offer came to him shortly after the release of his debut film. However, after an initial narration from Shetty, both Khan and the director felt that he wasn't the right fit for the role.

"I don't think I was right for it, which is the conversation that we had, and I said, 'Listen, I don't see us syncing'," Imran Khan explained. He further added, "Shah Rukh Khan was a better choice, I don't think I could top Shah Rukh".

"Chennai Express" was a romantic action comedy that revolved around Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan), who embarks on a journey to Chennai and unexpectedly falls in love with Meena (Deepika Padukone). The film was praised for its humor, music, and the chemistry between the lead actors. Upon release, "Chennai Express" broke several box office records, becoming one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films of that time.

Interestingly, 2013 was a year when another film starring Imran Khan, "Once Upon Ay Time in Mumbai Dobaara!" was released. This film was intentionally released to avoid clashing with Shah Rukh Khan's Chennai Express. However, the film received mixed to negative reviews and didn't perform well at the box office.

Imran Khan has been away from the limelight for a while. In a recent interview on January 24, 2026, he also spoke about being dropped from the film "Bhavesh Joshi" after his 2013 film "Gori Tere Pyaar Mein" didn't perform well. He stated that after the release of "Gori Tere Pyaar Mein", he was dropped from the film, implying that such things were beyond his control.

Shah Rukh Khan, on the other hand, continues to be a major force in Bollywood. His recent projects include "Pathaan" and "Jawan," both of which were huge successes. Khan is set to appear in the film "King" on December 24, 2026, alongside his daughter Suhana Khan and Deepika Padukone.