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Released in 2000 Josh wasn’t the biggest blockbuster of its time but it remains one of the most memorable films for its music setting and star power. Directed by Mansoor Khan and produced by Ratan Jain the film was set in Goa and featured Shah Rukh Khan as Max a gang leader and Aishwarya Rai as his twin sister Shirley. But not many know that the film’s casting went through several dramatic twists before the final lineup was locked. In fact Aamir Khan and Salman Khan were both offered roles in Josh before Shah Rukh Khan finally took the lead. What was Aamir Khan’s role supposed to be? Producer Ratan Jain recently revealed that Josh was initially designed as a two-hero project. “We had decided that Aamir would play the role that Chandrachur Singh eventually did and Shah Rukh would be Max” Jain said in an interview with TV9 Bharatvarsh. However director Mansoor Khan had other ideas. He wanted Aamir to play Max instead. But when Aamir found out he insisted that the role of Max was tailor-made for Shah Rukh Khan. “I remember Mansoor telling me that Aamir wanted to play Max. I said absolutely not only Shah Rukh will do it or I won’t make the film” Jain recalled. Why did Shah Rukh Khan walk out of Josh? Things got even more interesting during the joint narration. When Mansoor mentioned that Aamir was keen on playing Max Shah Rukh Khan reportedly stood up and walked out saying “I’m not doing this film.” With both stars stepping away the project was temporarily shelved. But that’s when another name entered the picture Salman Khan. How did Salman Khan almost replace Shah Rukh? Ratan Jain revealed that Salman was approached to play Max the role that would have made him Aishwarya Rai’s on-screen brother. “Salman even agreed to do the role” Jain shared. But before Josh could go on floors with him Sanjay Leela Bhansali reached out to Salman for Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. That changed everything. After Salman took up Bhansali’s film Jain once again approached Shah Rukh. “I told him now you have to do it it’s a matter of my respect. The next day Shah Rukh agreed” the producer revealed. What happened after Josh? After Josh Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai reunited in Mohabbatein the same year. Interestingly just a year before that Aishwarya had starred opposite Salman in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. But post-Mohabbatein Shah Rukh and Aishwarya never worked together again. Years later there were reports that Salman and Aishwarya were set to reunite in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani but the idea was dropped. The film was eventually made with Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone and went on to become a massive hit. Highlights: Aamir Khan initially wanted Shah Rukh Khan’s role in Josh Salman Khan almost played Aishwarya Rai’s brother in the film Shah Rukh eventually agreed to do the movie after much persuasion