Mukul Dev was fired from Kya Kehna and replaced by Saif Ali Khan; producer asked him to return Rs 50,000 signing amount

Mukul Dev was initially cast opposite Preity Zinta in Kya Kehna but was replaced by Saif Ali Khan after failing to show up on set.

By: Entertainment Desk

Chennai | Updated: May 24, 2025 02:03 PM IST

3 min read

Mukul Dev passed away at 54.

Mukul Dev’s good looks charmed filmmakers after he made his acting debut in the 1996 film Dastak. But his career wasn’t without its struggles. The actor was supposed to play the lead role opposite Preity Zinta in producer Ramesh Taurani’s film Kya Kehna. However, he was fired from the project and replaced by Saif Ali Khan after he failed to reach the set on time. Mukul passed away on May 23 at the age of 54.

Sharing details about the incident with Showsha, Ramesh had said, “Actually, Saif wasn’t supposed to do Kya Kehna. An actor called Mukul Dev was going to do it, but he didn’t show up on set on the first day of the shoot. At around 11 am, someone from the production called him up to ask where he was, and he said that he was on his way. They called again at noon, and he said that he’s outside RK Studio, but he never showed up.”

Ramesh also revealed that after Mukul didn’t reach the set of the film, he decided to have a meeting with his team in his Andheri office to discuss the action plan. He shared that while he was discussing casting Saif in the film with his team, Mukul was waiting for him outside his office. Ramesh said that Mukul wanted to explain his absence from the film’s set, but he didn’t give him a second chance and refused to speak with him.

Also read | Mukul Dev’s debut film was shelved because Amitabh Bachchan’s company went bankrupt; Jaya Bachchan gave him Rs 75k as signing amount

He said, “Our sets were ready, we had to start shooting. I decided to call Saif. I asked if he would be free to meet in the evening, and he said that he would. That’s when I was told that Mukul Dev had come by to the office. I said that I don’t have any interest in speaking to him, and that he should go back home. But he waited outside. When we were leaving to meet Saif, I spoke to him.”

After waiting for Ramesh, the two finally met, and Mukul was told that his services were no longer needed. He was informed that he had broken the trust between them and must return his signing amount of Rs 50,000. Kya Kehna was a massive hit at the box office. The film, directed by Kundan Shah, also starred Chandrachur Singh, Farida Jalal, and Anupam Kher in supporting roles.

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