In a recent interview, filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri shared his thoughts on how different casting choices could have impacted the success of his 2007 film, "Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal," and the sports drama "Chak De! India". Agnihotri believes that Shah Rukh Khan, with his established box office appeal, could have transformed "Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal" into a hit, while John Abraham in "Chak De! India" might have led to its failure.

"Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal," directed by Agnihotri, featured John Abraham in the lead role and revolved around the South Asian community in the UK, using professional football as its backdrop. Despite its noble intentions and a soundtrack by Pritam with lyrics by Javed Akhtar, the film received mixed reviews and achieved only moderate success at the box office. Some critics lauded the exhilarating climax, while others found the film derivative and uninspired.

Agnihotri suggests that the audience reception to "Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal" was heavily influenced by the star power associated with the lead actor. He posits that a star's box office draw can significantly impact a film's fate, regardless of its content. According to him, casting Shah Rukh Khan, who had a greater audience pull at the time, could have elevated the film's success.

Conversely, Agnihotri speculates that "Chak De! India," which starred Shah Rukh Khan as a disgraced hockey player, might not have resonated with audiences had John Abraham been cast in the lead. "Chak De! India" was released in August 2007 and became a critical and commercial success, dealing with India's national sport.

Agnihotri's comments highlight the complex relationship between a director's vision and the audience's perception of a film, often shaped by the actors involved. He emphasizes that the fate of a director is sometimes inextricably linked to the commercial appeal of the star.

Vivek Agnihotri is known for directing "The Kashmir Files". He has also directed films like "Chocolate," "Hate Story" and "The Vaccine War".