Veteran screenwriter Honey Irani Reopened the conversation around the much-discussed fall between Shah Rukh Khan And Sunny Deol After 1993
Yash Chopra
Classic Durr. While acknowledging Sunny’s displeasure at the time, Honey made it clear that the narrative around deep resentment and animosity had long been overblown.Speaking to Vicky Lalwani, Honey said that Sunny felt shortchanged in terms of screen time. However, she pointed out that he was fully aware of the script and his character from the beginning.“He thought so, but it was wrong because he had heard the script before. He knew the script very well from the beginning,” she said.
‘The role played by Shahrukh was first offered to Sunny’
In an important revelation, Honey shared that Sunny Deol was initially offered the role that eventually became a turning point in Shah Rukh Khan’s career.
She recalls personally encouraging Sunny to consider a darker, unconventional role, hoping he would try something different.
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“I told him, Sunny why don’t you try another role, different from what you have already done, but people like me remember Sunny saying, ‘Honey ji mera image bilkul kharab ho jaiga, khatam ho jaiga’ (Honey ji, my image will be completely ruined, it will be done).
Sunny’s decision to turn down the part due to image concerns eventually paved the way for Shah Rukh Khan to step into the role that redefines the Hindi cinema anti-hero.Honey explains that dissatisfaction is often expressed when a character receives disproportionate audience acclaim. In Durr, Shah Rukh Khan’s obsessive antagonist resonated strongly with viewers, surpassing Sunny Deol’s conventional hero – reflecting the evolving audience tastes of the early 1990s.
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‘Reports of hostility exaggerated’
Addressing the long-running rumors of enmity between the two actors, Honey rubbished claims suggesting that they can’t stand each other or are on the verge of a physical clash. She notes that such reports are amplified over time and shaped by film influence and changing audience sensibilities. Directed by Yash Chopra, Dur became a landmark film in Hindi cinema. While this led to years of speculation about the alleged fallout, the film marked a defining moment in Shah Rukh Khan’s journey, cementing his status as a star willing to take risks.
