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When Abbas-Mustan film Baazigar released in 1993, it catapulted Shah Rukh Khan into overnight stardom, establishing him as one of Bollywood’s most promising new talents. The film arrived in only the second year of his Hindi film career, yet it became a defining milestone. Baazigar was not only a turning point for Shah Rukh but also for Kajol, marking her first major commercial success, while introducing Shilpa Shetty to the industry. It went on to become the fourth-highest-grossing Hindi film of the year and, over time, earned the status of a cult classic.
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However, before its release, very few believed in the film—or in Shah Rukh Khan’s dark and unconventional character. The only exception was Shah Rukh himself.
In a recent interview with Bollywood Hungama, the film’s writer Javed Siddiqui revealed the skepticism they faced. “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. Most people were shocked and felt the audience wouldn’t accept such a protagonist.”
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Amid the doubts, Shah Rukh Khan stood firm.
“But only one person had confidence in the film, and he was Shah Rukh,” Siddiqui recalled, adding, “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.”
Javed Siddiqui also shared memories from Shah Rukh Khan’s early days in the industry, long before Baazigar was released. “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.”
