Farah Khan’s directorial masterpiece, “Om Shanti Om,” has achieved the status of a cult classic over time. The film not only marked the glamorous debut of actress Deepika Padukone but also brought together the iconic pairing of Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika on the silver screen. Alongside its commendable performances, the movie garnered praise for its exceptional music album. Even today, songs such as Shah Rukh’s captivating item number “Dard-e-Disco” and the melodious rendition of KK in “Main Agar Kahoon” continue to captivate audiences across generations.
Among the film’s standout tracks is “Deewangi Deewangi,” where Farah Khan successfully featured an impressive ensemble of 31 prominent celebrities. During a candid revelation on The Kapil Sharma Show, Farah shared her childhood fascination with the song “John Jani Janardhan” from the movie “Naseeb,” which inspired her to create a similar grand spectacle for her own film.
To ensure the success of the music video, Farah Khan personally visited the homes of each celebrity alongside her esteemed designer friend Manish Malhotra, seeking their participation. However, due to various circumstances, some actors regrettably declined the opportunity to be a part of this iconic song. Here are the noteworthy actors who either refused or were unable to participate:
Dilip Kumar & Saira Banu
Farah Khan revealed during the show that Shah Rukh Khan had assured her of bringing Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu on board. However, this promise remains unfulfilled, and Farah expressed her anticipation of a definitive response from SRK.
Dev Anand
The revered veteran actor declined the offer, emphasizing his inclination towards lead roles and aversion to cameo appearances. Farah fondly recounted his response, quoting him as saying, “I don’t do guest appearances.”
Amitabh Bachchan
Owing to his commitments to his son’s wedding with actress Aishwarya Rai, Amitabh Bachchan was unable to attend the music video shoot. Nonetheless, he did make an appearance in the film during an award show sequence.
Aishwarya Rai & Abhishek Bachchan
The couple’s nuptials coincided with the scheduled shooting of the music video, precluding their participation. However, Abhishek did appear alongside his father in the award show sequence.
Aamir Khan
Despite Farah’s ardent desire to include the perfectionist in the video, circumstances prevented Aamir’s involvement as she was engrossed in editing his film “Taare Zameen Par.” In 2019, at an IFFI ceremony, Farah divulged that Aamir had misled her, confessing that he never intended to be a part of the song.
Raveena Tandon
Despite their successful on-screen collaborations, Raveena was unable to participate in the song due to her pregnancy with her son, Ranbirvardan.
Fardeen Khan
In an interview with Film Companion, Farah Khan disclosed an unforeseen setback when Fardeen was detained at Dubai Airport for drug possession en route to the shoot, leading to his absence.
In contrast, the music video featured a star-studded cast of veteran actors such as Rekha, Dharmendra, Mithun Chakraborty, and Jeetendra. Actresses who had previously worked with Shah Rukh, including Priyanka Chopra, Tabu, Kajol, and Rani Mukerji, graced the video with their presence. Furthermore, contemporaries of Shah Rukh, including Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Sunil Shetty, and Govinda, added to the stellar ensemble.
Farah Khan’s aim to create an iconic film was realized through this memorable song, further solidifying the enduring legacy of “Om Shanti Om.”
