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Before Akshay Kumar became one of Bollywood’s most bankable stars, he faced a string of failures, industry rejections, and a career-threatening slump. It was during this turbulent phase that filmmaker Suneel darshan gave him a second chance with Jaanwar—a film originally meant for Ajay Devgn.
The role that could have gone to Ajay Devgn
In a recent interview with Bollywood Bubble, Suneel recalled how Akshay approached him for Jaanwar during a low point in his career. At the time, Akshay had delivered around 13 to 14 flops and was struggling to find work. Suneel shared that many in the industry had started distancing themselves from Akshay, making it a tough phase for the actor.Around the same time, the director had a fallout with Sunny Deolfor whom Jaanwar was originally written. After parting ways with Sunny, he approached Ajay Devgn, who was almost finalized for the role. But just as things were about to be locked, Akshay Kumar reached out. After meeting him, Suneel was impressed by Akshay’s humility and presence, and decided to cast him instead.Darshan also noted that while Kumar had many strengths—especially his reputation for discipline—the biggest challenge was that he wasn’t considered a bankable star at the time. Casting him in a big-budget film like Jaanwar was a major risk.Suneel highlighted the harsh truth of the film industry, saying that people treat actors well only when they are successful. The moment their career dips, the same people start humiliating them—something he described as deeply traumatic for any actor.The filmmaker recalled that Jaanwar marked a turning point, with strong support from his team, including Charisma kapoorwho was a top star at the time. The film’s success led to a long collaboration with Akshay Kumar, with the duo working on six more films together—Ek Rishtaa, Talaash, Dosti, Mere Jeevan Saathi, and Andaaz (which Suneel didn’t direct). Their partnership saw a mix of hits and misses over the years.Suneel shared that he and Akshay Kumar worked on seven films together, with their last project fittingly titled Dosti. For seven years, Akshay operated from Suneel’s office whenever he wasn’t shooting. Suneel recalled being one of the few who stood by Akshay when others dismissed him, and felt proud to see the actor eventually succeed—working with the same industry figures who once rejected him, but this time on his own terms.
A risky bet that paid off
Darshan recalled that during their sixth film together, he sensed a shift in Akshay Kumar’s energy. After the success of Jaanwar, Akshay took him for a drive and expressed concern about rumours that Suneel might be launching a new actor. When Suneel explained it was just a meeting out of respect for the actor’s father, Akshay made an emotional appeal—asking him not to sign anyone else and promising to do 100 films with him. Suneel remembered being struck by the sincerity of that moment.He added that even completing seven films with the same actor was a significant achievement. However, by the time they worked on their sixth project, Suneel began noticing a change in Akshay’s behaviour—and it became more apparent during their seventh film. Realising the shift, he decided it was best to step away and quietly moved on.
A 20-year silence
The director-actor, once close collaborators and friends, drifted apart so much that they haven’t met in nearly 20 years. The director revealed that their last meeting was in 2005, and since then, they’ve only exchanged brief birthday wishes once or twice. Suneel said he let go of the past so Akshay could move forward in his career without any emotional baggage. Citing examples from the industry, he noted that even iconic partnerships like Amitabh Bachchan and Prakash Mehra eventually came to an end—something that’s not uncommon in the film world.
