When Sridevi was not cast in Baazigar as directors were worried SRK killing her on screen might backfire

Sridevi has ruled the roost in Bollywood as one of the industry’s foremost female superstars in the 80s and the 90s. While it has been four years since her sudden demise in Dubai in tragic case of accidental drowning, she is still remembered fondly by fans who loved her fiercely.

Such was the love for the diva that filmmaker duo Abbas Mastan once dropped the idea of casting her in the film Baazigar in 1993 because her onscreen death might not have gone down well with fans. The film was ultimately made with Shilpa Shetty and Kajol playing sisters.

One of Shah Rukh Khan ’s most loved performances for early in his career, Baazigar was originally supposed to star Sridevi in a double role playing the role of both sisters. In the movie, Shah Rukh’s character seeks revenge for his father’s death is seen killing one of the sisters, daughters of his father’s aggressor, by pushing her off from the roof of a building.

The director duo while planning the film with Sridevi in mind later came to the conclusion that the audience won’t sympathise with Shah Rukh’s character if he kills Sridevi. They therefore decided to cast two different actresses to play the sisters and cast Shilpa and Kajol.

The director duo had also thought of casting Juhi Chawla but went with two fresh faces as they didn't want the popularity of these A-list actresses overshadowing the film. Shah Rukh's plot would have especially been hurt who the makers wanted the audience to sympathise with despite his negative potrayal.

It was ultimately Shilpa’s character who was seen being killed at the hands of Shah Rukh’s character.

Sridevi was the peak of her career in the 90s and headlined big ticket films like Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja , Laadla , Lamhe and Juadaai in that decade. The actress who inspired many young talents to join the industry was the highest paid actress in Bollywood at the time.

Sridevi died in her hotel room in Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai UAE in 2018. The actress was there to attend a family wedding.