EXCLUSIVE: Suneel Darshan on replacing Akshay Kumar with Bobby Deol in Barsaat, “There was an incident after which…”
In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, Suneel Darshan recalled, one of the more unexpected moments in his career that came during the casting of Barsaat (2005). Although he had enjoyed a successful working relationship with Akshay Kumar in several previous films, Darshan ended up casting Bobby Deol in the lead role — a decision that raised eyebrows at the time.
Many were surprised, especially considering Darshan was reportedly not on good terms with Bobby’s brother, Sunny Deol, during that period. However, Darshan clarified that the casting change was not personal but driven by professional reasons. “Akshay had become extremely busy by then,” Darshan explained. “The role required a certain freshness and youthful energy, and I felt Bobby could bring that to the screen at that point in his career.”
While Darshan didn’t publicly elaborate on the exact reason for replacing Akshay Kumar, he did hint at a turning point. “There was an incident, after which I had to replace him with Bobby Deol. It was strange because I didn’t have the best relationship with Sunny Deol at the time,” Darshan admitted.
The connection was eventually made through Mr. Bhakshi, who had earlier worked as Dharmendra’s secretary and was later handling Bobby’s career. Darshan recalled, “Mr. Bhakshi told me that Bobby was interested in working with me. I was hesitant. I asked, ‘How can I trust them?’ He assured me and suggested that Bobby sign a legal agreement for my peace of mind.” That agreement turned out to be a turning point. “Bobby not only signed the papers but fully lived up to what was promised,” Darshan said. “He didn’t take on any other films during that time, just as agreed.”
The collaboration marked the beginning of a successful working relationship. After Barsaat, Darshan and Bobby Deol went on to work together on two more films: Dosti: Friends Forever (2005) and Shaka Laka Boom Boom (2007). “There were no disturbances in our relationship throughout those projects,” Darshan added.
In the end, the decision to cast Bobby Deol in Barsaat may have surprised many, but for Suneel Darshan, it was a professional call — one that resulted in a strong creative partnership that lasted several films.
The post EXCLUSIVE: Suneel Darshan on replacing Akshay Kumar with Bobby Deol in Barsaat, “There was an incident after which…” appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.