Shah Rukh Khan replaced Armaan Kohli in Deewana, says Guddu Dhanoa: ‘He didn’t even know, I had already signed him’
In an exclusive interview, producer Guddu Dhanoa recalls his very first interaction with Shah Rukh Khan and shares how the actor charmed him even before they officially met.
Guddu Dhanoa on working with Shah Rukh Khan in Deewana (Photos: Shah Rukh Khan, Guddu Dhanoa / Instagram)
Shah Rukh Khan is one of the biggest superstars in the country today. And the actor has had quite an interesting story to stardom. In 1989, SRK featured in two television shows – Fauji and Circus, and those seem to pave the way for him to enter Bollywood. In 1992, producer Guddu Dhanoa signed him for his first film, Deewana, which featured SRK alongside Rishi Kapoor and Divya Bharti. Recently, in an exclusive conversation with SCREEN, Deewana’s producer Guddu Dhanoa recalled how he signed SRK for the part, and spoke about their very first meeting in Delhi.
Guddu said, “Armaan Kohli was in that film; however, he left the film, and it was Shekhar Kapur who suggested Shah Rukh Khan’s name to me. We were going to Madras to see the effects of the film Anjali, that’s when he told me to sign SRK, and I was like, ‘Who is Shah Rukh Khan?’ So he asked me if I had seen Fauji and Circus. I had seen the shows, but I couldn’t recall his face.”
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“Once we returned from Madras, I called Shah Rukh and he asked us to come to Delhi. We met at a restaurant at Connaught Palace, he exactly entered the place at noon, and I was asking the film’s director Raj Kanwar at that time who SRK was, I still couldn’t remember his face till then. And when he entered, just at his first glimpse, I locked him for Deewana. He didn’t even know I had already signed him, I didn’t know if he would say yes to me doing the film, I just finalized him. I waved at him, he came and sat down, and we spoke further. When I saw him for the first time, I just thought he was fantastic. He was so perfect for the film, ” Guddu Dhanoa added.
Talking about how Shah Rukh Khan has not changed a bit, Guddu said, “He has not changed even a bit since then. There are a lot of people whose behaviour is different when they are new, and later, once they become stars, they change drastically. Shah Rukh never changed.”
Guddu Dhanoa has worked with the biggest of names in Indian cinema, namely Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Priyanka Chopra, Tabu, Raveena Tandon, Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Ajay Devgn, etc. He also produced the very first film of singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh.
On the work front, he has now returned as a director for Romeo S3, the film stars Thakur Anoop Singh and Palak Tiwari in the lead roles. In another interview, Guddu also confirmed that he is making a sequel to SRK’s film Deewana; the film is currently in the scripting stage.
Nawaz Javed Kochra is a seasoned entertainment journalist at The Indian Express Online, bringing nearly a decade of expertise to the forefront of cultural reporting. With a focus on the television and Over-The-Top (OTT) landscapes, he has established himself as a prominent voice in the industry, known for his high-profile celebrity interviews and insightful coverage of the Indian entertainment sector.
Experience & Career
Nawaz holds a Master of Arts in Communication and Journalism from Mumbai University, providing him with a rigorous academic and ethical foundation. In his 11-year career, he has navigated through several of India's leading media houses, building a portfolio that spans digital, print, and broadcast media:
The Indian Express: Currently leads coverage of TV and OTT content, producing both written analysis and popular video interview segments.
Former Roles: He began his career at the iconic Stardust Magazine and later held key positions at Zoom TV, Zee Multimedia, MissMalini, Bollywood Bubble, and Raindrop Media.
Expertise & Focus Areas
Nawaz’s beat is characterized by a blend of exclusive access and trend analysis. His core areas of expertise include:
Reality Television: Specialized coverage of major franchises like Bigg Boss, providing behind-the-scenes insights and winner profiles.
OTT Ecosystem: Tracking the shift from traditional cable to digital streaming platforms, with a focus on web series and digital premieres.
Celebrity Profiles & Interviews: Nawaz is celebrated for his ability to foster candid conversations with industry stalwarts, from music composers like Amaal Mallik to other TV legends.
Investigative Entertainment News: Reporting on sensitive industry developments, including legal disputes and personal stories of resilience within the acting community.
Authoritativeness & Trust
With a reputation built on years of networking and credible reporting, Nawaz Kochra is a "known face" in the Mumbai media circuit. His work at The Indian Express adheres to the publication's "Journalism of Courage" standard, ensuring that even entertainment reporting is approached with accuracy, sensitivity, and transparency. His educational background and extensive tenure across diverse media platforms provide him with the authoritative perspective required to analyze the rapid evolution of Indian show business. ... Read More
