Renowned rapper and music sensation Badshah has ventured into the world of acting, though primarily through brief cameos. However, his path could have led to more prominent roles had he accepted offers from avant-garde filmmaker Karan Johar. In recent revelations, Badshah disclosed that he had declined key roles in notable projects including the Netflix anthology ‘Lust Stories’ and the comedy film ‘Good Newwz’, both of which eventually went to other actors.
In an exclusive interview with Lallantop, Badshah unveiled the circumstances surrounding these missed opportunities. Karan Johar, the celebrated Dharma Productions honcho, saw potential in Badshah as an actor and approached him to play the role that was eventually portrayed by Vicky Kaushal in ‘Lust Stories’.
Recalling the moment, Badshah said, “I was offered Vicky Kaushal’s role in ‘Lust Stories’. Initially, I thought Karan sir was jesting. He mentioned, ‘There’s a role of a guy who can’t satisfy his wife’. I was taken aback and thought, ‘Yeh kya baat hui sir? Main aisa lagta hoon kya? (Do I look like someone who cannot satisfy his partner?)’” The rapper’s initial reaction was one of disbelief, thinking it was either a joke or a kind gesture from Johar.
As Badshah elaborated, “We were judging a show called ‘Dil Hai Hindustani’ together, and Karan sir mentioned it while sitting next to me. I genuinely believed he was joking. But he brought it up again during our next shoot. To my surprise, even Varun Dhawan congratulated me on my launch by Dharma. Despite the show of confidence from Karan sir and others, I ultimately declined the role. At that time, I was taking myself too seriously and was unsure of my ability to do justice to such a character.”
The decline of this role did not mark the end of opportunities from Karan Johar for Badshah. In an interesting turn of events, Johar then offered him another role in the film ‘Good Newwz’. This time, the role was that of a man who struggles with infertility.
. Again, Badshah chose to pass on the role, which eventually went to actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh.
Opening up about this second offer, Badshah commented, “Karan sir approached me again for ‘Good Newwz’. I was in Manali when I saw several missed calls from him. On returning the call, he asked me to come to Mumbai. There, Shashank Khaitan was also present, and they asked me to audition for a character who can’t have kids. Once more, I felt unsure and declined the role.”
Interestingly, Badshah marked his acting debut in the film ‘Khandani Shafakhana’, where he portrayed a rapper dealing with erectile dysfunction. This decision marked a significant departure from his prior rejections. Commenting on what made him take up this role, he shared, “I decided to take on this role because I wanted to raise awareness about erectile dysfunction, and I believed in the message of the film. I found the role to be both challenging and impactful. Working alongside Sonakshi Sinha and delivering an important message through a mainstream film was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”
The rapper-turned-actor’s journey has been one of careful choices, balancing his formidable presence in the music industry while cautiously stepping into the cinematic landscape. Despite the initial hesitation and declined roles, Badshah’s decision to debut in ‘Khandani Shafakhana’ reflects his commitment to taking on roles that resonate with social issues and offer meaningful narratives.
Looking ahead, the entertainment world remains eager to see whether Badshah will continue to explore acting further. With his talent and unique charisma, Bollywood offers an expansive canvas for him to diversify his portfolio. As fans and critics reflect on his past offers, it becomes evident that the choices he made speak volumes about his thoughtfulness and the direction he intends to take in his evolving career.
As it stands, Badshah remains a chart-topping icon in music while also hinting at a potential multifaceted future in the world of Indian cinema. Given the right roles, the rapper’s cinematic journey appears ripe with possibilities, awaiting the next chapter to be written.
