We all know Deepak Tijori as the best fried of Rahul Roy’s character in the 1990 film Aashiqui, or the notorious Shekhar Malhotra from the Aamir Khan-starrer Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992). But did you know the actor almost played the lead in a Mahesh Bhatt film before the director’s brother, producer Mukesh Bhatt, scrapped the project? “Deepak cannot be the hero,” he said.
In a recent interview with Radio Nasha, Deepak, now 63, recalled when the opportunity of playing a lead role was snatched away from him. He said, “There was a film which Mahesh Bhatt started. We were done with the photo shoot, and it was decided that I was leading in the film. But, at that time, his brother Mukesh Bhatt, who is a hardcore producer and extremely practical man, said, ‘Deepak cannot be the hero, I won’t back the film. You take him as a supporting actor.'”
Deepak clarified that the producer didn’t have anything against him personally, but simply didn’t believe in him as the lead star. He said, “Not like he had a personal grudge against me. The film was eventually scrapped as Mahesh Bhatt didn’t replace me. He saw me in a character.” Deepak revealed the film was titled Adhure Log.
Sharing how his dream of becoming a main lead crumbled, Deepak said, “After a very long time, I started to believe that I was finally going places. But as Mukesh Bhatt took a step back from the project, Mahesh sir didn’t have a choice. He told me, ‘I am a creative man, I don’t have these things in my hand.’ I then realised, this is how it is going to be for me. I had been doing a lot of work for others, but after a point, I decided to stop doing favours anymore.”
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Deepak’s only complaint is that nobody ever gave him an opportunity to show his capabilities. “I was like, ‘You haven’t even seen what I am capable of. Give me an opportunity. Don’t typecast me as a friend. Give me powerful roles, if not the lead role’.”
Deepak Tijori has played supporting roles in films such as Khiladi (1992), Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994), Ghulam (1998), and Baadshah (1999). He starred in the lead role in Ashutosh Gowariker’s debut film Pehla Nasha (1993). However, the film, also starring Pooja Bhatt, Raveena Tandon, and Paresh Rawal with cameo appearances by Aamir Khan, Rahul Roy, Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Juhi Chawla, failed at the box office.
The actor then marked his directorial debut with the film Oops! (2003), followed by Fareb and Khamoshh… Khauff Ki Raat (2005), Tom, Dick, and Harry (2006), and Fox (2009). His latest venture was Do Lafzon Ki Kahani (2016), starring Randeep Hooda and Kajal Aggarwal, which tanked at the box office as well.
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