Salman Khan wanted Katrina Kaif in Wanted, not Ayesha Takia, reveals Boney Kapoor: ‘I said it would be better if…’

Prabhu Deva’s Wanted marked the beginning of the second innings of Salman Khan’s career, a phase that saw him dominate the Bollywood box office throughout the 2010s.

Released in 2009, the film helped the superstar bounce back from a string of underwhelming outings and reinvented him as a full-fledged mass action hero. Now a cult classic, Wanted is remembered not just for its stylised action but also for Salman’s fresh and unusual pairing with Ayesha Takia. However, producer Boney Kapoor has revealed that Ayesha almost did not make it into the film.

Boney Kapoor on the making of Wanted

Wanted was the Hindi remake of the Telugu blockbuster Pokiri (2006), which starred Mahesh Babu. Boney Kapoor recalled watching director Puri Jagannadh’s film and instantly feeling that Salman Khan was perfect for the role of Radhe, aka Rajveer Shekhawat.

“I happened to see Puri Jagannadh’s 2006 Telugu blockbuster Pokiri. I thought Salman would be apt for the character of Radhe. I wanted him to see the film and had arranged two preview shows, but because of his hectic schedule, Salman couldn’t make it,” Boney told Rediff.

He added that he was anxious about delays, fearing a repeat of what had happened with Ghajini. “I was worried that the Tamil remake would release, and if it was as big a hit as the original, another Bollywood actor or producer would evince interest in the Hindi remake rights, and like with Ghajini, I would lose out on Pokiri too.”

Eventually, Salman watched the film and gave it the green signal. Prabhu Deva was then roped in to direct the project. While Boney was keen on casting a fresh face opposite Salman, the actor suggested Katrina Kaif, his frequent co-star and then girlfriend.

“Salman had suggested Katrina Kaif’s name for the role of the heroine in Wanted,” Boney recalled. “But since the character is initially ambivalent about her feelings for Radhe, I felt it would be better to cast an actress who had never been paired with him before.” Several names were considered, including Genelia D’Souza, before the makers finally settled on Ayesha Takia.

About Wanted

Wanted released in theatres on September 18, 2009, and turned out to be a major commercial success. The film earned over ₹60 crore net in India and close to ₹100 crore gross worldwide. It became Salman Khan’s first clean hit in years and laid the foundation for a blockbuster streak that followed with films like Dabangg, Ready and Bodyguard, firmly re-establishing him as Bollywood’s biggest mass star of the decade.