The year 2009 marked a significant turning point in Salman Khan's career, thanks to the high-octane action film 'Wanted'. Directed by Prabhu Deva, this Hindi remake of the 2006 Telugu blockbuster 'Pokiri' redefined Salman's on-screen persona as Radhe, a stylish undercover cop posing as a gangster. The film's fast-paced narrative, punchy dialogues, and massive action sequences resonated powerfully with single-screen audiences, cementing Salman's status as a mass hero. But the journey to bring this hit to the screen was fraught with anxiety and last-minute drama, as recently revealed by its producer, Boney Kapoor.
The Producer's Vision and the Race Against Time
In a recent interview, Boney Kapoor recounted how he identified the potential in the original Telugu film. After watching Puri Jagannadh's 'Pokiri', he was convinced that Salman Khan was the perfect fit for the lead role of Radhe, also named Rajveer Shekhavat in the Hindi version. Kapoor's immediate challenge was to get Salman to see the film. "I arranged two preview shows, but because of his hectic schedule, Salman couldn't make it," Kapoor shared. His worry was compounded by the impending release of the Tamil remake. He feared that if that version also became a hit, other Bollywood producers might scramble for the Hindi rights, leaving him empty-handed—a scenario he had witnessed with the film 'Ghajini'.
The Nerve-Wracking Midnight Screening
Kapoor's persistence finally paid off in a rather dramatic fashion. "One day, past midnight, he finally turned up at a Mumbai preview theatre," the producer recalled. However, the elation was short-lived due to a technical mix-up—the theatre had received a DTS print instead of the Dolby Digital version. Anxious, Kapoor waited for Salman's verdict. The reaction was far from verbose. "After watching it, he walked past me without a word. I followed anxiously, and before sitting in his car, he just signalled thumbs up," Kapoor described. That silent thumbs-up was all the confirmation needed to greenlight the project.
Casting Controversies: From Katrina Kaif to Ayesha Takia
While the male lead was locked, the female lead's casting took an interesting turn. Kapoor disclosed that Salman Khan had initially suggested Katrina Kaif for the heroine's role. However, Kapoor had a different perspective. Given that the character, Jhanvi, is initially uncertain about her feelings for Radhe, Kapoor reasoned that it would be more effective to cast an actress who had never been romantically paired with Salman before. This led them to consider several names, including Genelia D'Souza, before ultimately finalizing Ayesha Takia for the part.
Released in 2009, 'Wanted' went on to become a massive commercial success. It successfully retained the core essence of 'Pokiri' while tailoring the protagonist's larger-than-life swagger specifically for Salman Khan's fan base. The film not only revived his career trajectory but also established a new template for the action-masala genre in Bollywood, proving the strategic genius behind a well-executed remake and a producer's unwavering belief.
