Did you know Salman Khan first offered Sultan to THIS actress, but she was later replaced by Anushka Sharma due to THIS reason? Read on to know!
Published: August 30, 2025 10:33 AM IST
It’s been few days since Bigg Boss 19 has started. Known for its controversies, the reality show also offers some interesting insights into Bollywood trivia, with Salman Khan being the host. One such interesting revelation came out when Mrunal Thakur and Shahid Kapoor were invited as special guests on Bigg Boss 15. During the interaction, Salman Khan disclosed that, not Anushka Sharma, but Mrunal was the first choice for the film Sultan.
When Mrunal Thakur was replaced by Anushka Sharma in Sultan
While interacting with Shahid Kapoor, the Ek Tha Tiger host said, “Toh aapko inke baare mein kuchh batata hun (Let me tell you an interesting fact about her). The original star of Sultan was her.” In awe, the Jersey actor said, “Ohh really.” Salman continued, “She came to the farm (house) to meet me. Ali leke aaye the inko. Uss waqt yeh pahelwan type lag nahi rahi thi (Ali Abbas Zafar had brought her. And at that time, she didn’t look like a wrestler).”
The Dabangg host laughed and said, “Anushka bhi nahi lagti thi pahelwan type. Aur mujhe pata tha ki yeh inka hoga hi hoga (Anushka Sharma also didn’t look like one. But I knew she would do well).” To this Mrunal added, “Maine uss time bahut zyada wazan ghata liya tha (I had lost a lot of weight back then).” Hearing Salman, Shahid praised her as “extremely talented.”
About Sultan
The role of Aarfa in Sultan than eventually went to Anushka Sharma. Her powerful portrayal of female wrestler was appreciated by both critics and masses. Released in 2016, The movie follows the tale of Sultan Ali Khan (Salman Kahn)- a small-town wrestler from Haryana. He shot to success after a devastating personal downfall.
When released, Sultan became a massive success. Made in a budget of Rs 90 crore, the Ali Abbas Zafar directorial went on to earn Rs 421.25 crore in India, while its worldwide gross collection was over Rs 623.33 crore.
Story Highlights
- On Bigg Boss 15, Salman Khan revealed that Mrunal Thakur was the first choice for Sultan.
- However, the role eventually went on to Anushka Sharma, whose portrayal of wrestler Aarfa earned widespread praise.
- Released in 2016, Sultan became a massive hit, earning Rs 600 crore worldwide.
