Salman Khan as Lord Ram? The Untold Story of a Shelved Bollywood Epic & Sohail Khan-Pooja Bhatt Romance

2025-07-19
Salman Khan as Lord Ram? The Untold Story of a Shelved Bollywood Epic & Sohail Khan-Pooja Bhatt Romance
The Times of India

<a class="text-blue-700" href="/en-IN/search/Salman%20Khan">Salman Khan</a> as Lord Ram? The Untold Story of a Shelved Bollywood Epic & Sohail Khan-Pooja Bhatt Romance

A Mythological Epic That Never Was: Salman Khan's Near-Role as Lord Ram

Imagine Salman Khan, the 'Bad Boy' of Bollywood, portraying the virtuous Lord Ram. It sounds almost unbelievable, doesn't it? But in the early 1990s, this was a very real possibility. Sohail Khan, known for his directorial and production work, had a grand vision: a Bollywood adaptation of the Ramayana, a cornerstone of Hindu mythology.

Sohail's ambition was nothing short of spectacular. He envisioned a lavish, visually stunning retelling of the epic tale, with Salman Khan in the lead role of Lord Ram and the radiant Sonali Bendre as Sita. The project promised to be a landmark event in Indian cinema, potentially rivaling the scale and grandeur of historical epics like 'Mahabharat'. The initial buzz around the project was immense, fueled by the star power of Salman and Sonali and the universal appeal of the Ramayana story.

The Romance That Derailed a Dream

However, fate had other plans. The ambitious project was abruptly shelved, and the reasons behind its demise were shrouded in speculation for years. The primary catalyst, as revealed later, was an on-set romance between Sohail Khan and actress Pooja Bhatt. Their relationship created a significant amount of turmoil and controversy, ultimately proving too disruptive for the production to continue.

Sources close to the production claim that the romantic entanglement between Sohail and Pooja significantly impacted the film's atmosphere and progress. It led to tensions within the cast and crew, and Sohail's focus shifted away from the project, making it impossible to maintain the momentum needed to complete the film. The delicate subject matter of the Ramayana, combined with the personal drama unfolding on set, proved to be a combination too difficult to navigate.

What Could Have Been?

The cancellation of Sohail Khan's Ramayana remains a fascinating 'what if' scenario in Bollywood history. Could Salman Khan have truly embodied the role of Lord Ram? Would the film have achieved the critical and commercial success that was initially anticipated? The answer, unfortunately, remains elusive. The story serves as a reminder of how personal lives and relationships can sometimes intersect with professional endeavors, leading to unexpected and often dramatic consequences.

While Ranbir Kapoor eventually took on a significant role in a Ramayana-inspired film, the prospect of seeing Salman Khan as Lord Ram remains a tantalizing glimpse into a Bollywood dream that never materialized. It's a story that continues to captivate audiences, highlighting the complexities of filmmaking and the unpredictable nature of stardom.

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