"Chak De! India," the 2007 sports drama starring Shah Rukh Khan, is considered one of the most iconic films in Bollywood history. However, the role of Kabir Khan, the disgraced hockey player turned coach, was initially offered to Salman Khan. Several reasons have surfaced over the years explaining why Salman Khan ultimately turned down the role that would later become synonymous with Shah Rukh Khan.

One of the primary reasons Salman Khan cited was his image at the time. In 2016, during the promotions for his film "Sultan," Salman Khan jokingly said he declined the role so that Shah Rukh Khan could be a part of a great film. He then elaborated, saying that in the period when "Chak De! India" was offered to him, he was doing films like "Partner," which were more in the commercial and comedy zone. He felt his fans had certain expectations from him, which included seeing him in a heroic role. He worried that his fans would expect his character in "Chak De! India" to wear a wig and single-handedly win the match for India, which wouldn't align with the film's serious tone and realistic narrative.

Salman has also mentioned having issues with the climax of the film. While he admired the script, he felt that the ending might not resonate well with his audience, who were used to seeing him in larger-than-life roles. He expressed that "Chak De! India" was a more serious kind of film, and he was more inclined towards commercial cinema at that time. He added that he would never move out of the commercial cinema zone but would like to do meaningful cinema in the commercial zone.

Another theory that emerged was that Salman Khan had asked for a hefty remuneration for the film. Some reports suggest that due to this, Aditya Chopra, the producer, did not work with Salman until "Ek Tha Tiger" (2012), where Salman reportedly signed on his terms.

Interestingly, Shah Rukh Khan himself had initial reservations about "Chak De! India." After the first screening, he felt it was the worst film they had ever made. Despite having talented people like Aditya Chopra, Jaideep Sahni, and Shimit Amin working on it, along with young girls who learned hockey for the film, the initial response was discouraging. However, the film went on to become a massive success, both commercially and critically, and is now considered one of Shah Rukh Khan's finest performances.

Ultimately, Salman Khan's decision to decline "Chak De! India" stemmed from a combination of factors, including his image, concerns about fan expectations, creative differences regarding the climax, and possibly financial considerations. While it's interesting to imagine what "Chak De! India" would have looked like with Salman Khan in the lead role, the film's success with Shah Rukh Khan is undeniable, solidifying its place as a classic in Indian cinema.