Shekhar Suman reveals he was first choice for Jackie Shroff's 'Devdas' role, regrets not doing it

Bollywood veteran Shekhar Suman recently shared an interesting story about his career in a recent interview. He revealed that he was initially the first choice for the role of Chunnilal in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's iconic film "Devdas," which graced the silver screen in 2002. 

Speaking to Instant Bollywood, Shekhar Suman disclosed that he had been offered the role of Chunnilal in "Devdas." However, due to circumstances at the time, he couldn't take up the role, which was later portrayed by Jackie Shroff. Suman expressed his privilege to work with Sanjay Leela Bhansali in "Heeramandi." 

He shared, "Long ago, he had offered me the role of Chunnilal in Devdas, but I couldn't do that then. Then Jackie Shroff was cast in the role, and it's good that he did that role. But I had that regret in my life that I couldn't work with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, but my wish has been granted in Heeramandi."

"Devdas," directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and produced by Bharat Shah, became a blockbuster hit. Based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel of the same name from 1917, the film narrated the tragic tale of Devdas Mukherjee (played by Shah Rukh Khan), his unrequited love for Parvati (Paro), played by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and his tumultuous journey into alcoholism, emotional turmoil, and eventual demise. 

Well, now, Shekhar Suman is set to play a significant role in Heramandi alongside a talented ensemble cast, including Sonakshi Sinha, Manisha Koirala, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, and others. With this new venture, Bhansali continues to explore and captivate audiences with his unique storytelling prowess.

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