Salman Khan’s action drama Wanted marked a major turning point in his career and laid the foundation for his dominance at the box office throughout the 2010s. Released in 2009 and directed by Prabhu Deva, the film helped Salman bounce back after a series of underperforming projects and re-established him as a mass action star. Now, producer Boney Kapoor has revisited the making of the film and revealed lesser-known details, including how the casting of the female lead almost took a different turn.
Boney Kapoor on the Making of Wanted
Wanted was the Hindi remake of the 2006 Telugu blockbuster Pokiri, which starred Mahesh Babu and was directed by Puri Jagannadh. Boney Kapoor recalled that after watching Pokiri, he was convinced that Salman Khan would be perfect for the role of Radhe, also known as Rajveer Shekhawat.
Speaking to Rediff, Kapoor shared that he was keen for Salman to watch the original film and had arranged two special preview screenings. However, due to his busy schedule, Salman was unable to attend them initially. Kapoor admitted that he was anxious the remake rights might slip out of his hands, especially if the Tamil version released and became a major success, attracting interest from other Bollywood producers—similar to what had happened earlier with Ghajini.
Eventually, Salman Khan watched Pokiri and agreed to take on the project. Following this, Prabhu Deva was brought on board to direct the film, setting the stage for what would later become a career-defining collaboration.
Why Ayesha Takia Was Cast in Wanted
Boney Kapoor also revealed that casting the heroine involved several discussions. Salman had suggested Katrina Kaif, who was both his frequent co-star and girlfriend at the time. However, Kapoor felt that the story required a fresh pairing.
He explained that since the female character was initially unsure of her feelings for Radhe, it would be more effective to cast an actress who had never been paired opposite Salman before. Several names were considered, including Genelia D’Souza, before the makers eventually finalised Ayesha Takia for the role.
About Wanted
Wanted released in theatres on September 18, 2009, and emerged as a major commercial success. The film earned over Rs. 60 crores net in India and close to Rs. 100 crores gross worldwide. It became Salman Khan’s first clean hit in several years and played a crucial role in reshaping his on-screen image.
The success of Wanted paved the way for a string of blockbusters such as Dabangg, Ready, and Bodyguard, firmly establishing Salman Khan as one of Bollywood’s biggest stars in the years that followed. Today, the film continues to be remembered as a cult favourite that marked the beginning of Salman Khan’s second innings.
More Pages: Wanted Box Office Collection , Wanted Movie Review
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