Abbas–Mustan’s Baazigar may be celebrated today as a cult classic, but back in 1993, the film was viewed as a major risk. Released in just Shah Rukh Khan’s second year in Bollywood, the thriller went on to transform careers—turning SRK into a breakout star, giving Kajol her first significant commercial hit, and launching Shilpa Shetty. It eventually became the fourth-highest-grossing Hindi film of the year. But before all the acclaim, the project was met with widespread skepticism.
The industry doubted the idea of a ‘negative hero ’
In a conversation with Bollywood Hungama, writer Javed Siddiqui revealed that many believed audiences would reject a protagonist with morally dark shades. “When the project started, a lot of people said that you have made a negative character into a hero or you are making a hero into a villain. They also pointed out that he commits five murders in the film,” he said. “Most people were shocked and felt the audience wouldn’t accept such a protagonist.”While producers and insiders worried the film would backfire, one person stayed adamant that it would work—Shah Rukh Khan himself.
SRK’s confidence stood out
Siddiqui shared that amidst all the doubts, SRK displayed an unwavering conviction. “But only one person had confidence in the film, and he was Shah Rukh,” he recalled. “He said, ‘I will pull it off.’ He has something different in him. He is also very hardworking when it comes to preparing for his role.”That determination would eventually define SRK’s early career—choosing challenging, unconventional roles and turning them into milestones.
A bond formed before Baazigar
Javed Siddiqui also revisited memories from the days when SRK was still finding his footing in the industry. “I had developed a bond with him before Baazigar. My partner Robin Bhatt and I used to write movies together and had a permanent room in a hotel in Khar. Shah Rukh often visited us because, at that time, he wasn’t so busy,” he said.Decades later, Baazigar continues to be remembered as the film that showcased Shah Rukh Khan’s fearlessness—and proved his instinct right when almost everyone else doubted the gamble.
