Veteran screenwriter Honey Irani has recently shed light on the casting of Yash Chopra's 1993 film Darr: A Violent Love Story, revealing that Sunny Deol was initially offered the role that Shah Rukh Khan eventually made iconic. In a recent interview, Irani explained that Sunny Deol declined the role due to concerns about his established on-screen image.
According to Irani, she personally encouraged Deol to consider the "darker, unconventional character," hoping he would explore a different type of role. However, Deol was hesitant, fearing that playing a negative character would damage his image. Irani recalled Deol saying, "Honey ji mera image bilkul kharab ho jaega, khatam ho jaega (Honey ji, my image will be completely ruined, it will be finished). People like me as this".
Darr went on to become a major commercial success, solidifying Shah Rukh Khan's position in Bollywood. Khan's portrayal of the obsessive lover, Rahul Mehra, was widely applauded, but Sunny Deol, who played the hero, Lieutenant Sunil Malhotra, reportedly felt overshadowed.
Irani addressed the rumors of a rift between Deol and Khan, clarifying that reports of animosity have been overstated. While acknowledging Deol's dissatisfaction with his role, Irani stated that he was aware of the script and his character's arc from the beginning. She explained that such feelings often arise when one character receives disproportionate audience applause. In Darr, Khan's portrayal resonated strongly with viewers, eclipsing Deol's more traditional heroic role.
According to some reports, Sunny Deol and Shah Rukh Khan did not speak for nearly 16 years after Darr. Deol himself stated that his issue with the film stemmed from the glorification of the villain. Despite any past tensions, Sunny Deol has expressed openness to working with Shah Rukh Khan in the future.
Darr also starred Juhi Chawla as Kiran, the object of Rahul's obsession and Sunil's girlfriend and later wife. The film won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.