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Shoaib Akhtar revealed that he rejected a Bollywood film offered by Salman Khan because he did not believe he could manage careers in both cricket and cinema. Despite turning down the opportunity, Akhtar praised Salman as a “very kind-hearted person” and lauded his charitable work

Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar revealed why he turned down an opportunity to work in a Bollywood film offered by Salman Khan. The ‘Rawalpindi Express’ said he had considered entering the Hindi film industry when relations between India and Pakistan were more cordial, but eventually decided that he could not manage careers in both cricket and cinema.

Speaking about his Bollywood offers, Akhtar revealed during Tabish Hashmi's show that he was approached for Gangster, although he was not offered Emraan Hashmi’s role. He was considered for another part in the film.

Akhtar also confirmed that Salman Khan had offered him a film. However, the former fast bowler chose not to pursue the opportunity because he did not want to divide his time between professional cricket and the film industry. He also shed light on the attention he expected to receive if he entered Bollywood. He said people would often link him with actresses.

“I couldn’t survive in two parallel worlds. I would play cricket for six or seven months and then spend six or seven months shooting. People would always tag me with women there… So, although I had considered it, three or four directors told me, ‘You don’t have to do much to play the villain’," he said.