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Namit Malhotra and Nitesh Tiwari's magnum opus Ramayana has been generating significant buzz. Fans have pinned high hopes on the epic saga, with Ranbir Kapoor essaying Lord Rama after their hopes were crushed with Om Raut's Adipurush having Prabhas in the lead.
The attempt for a cinematic adaptation of the Indian Epic is not new in Bollywood. Earlier, actor and director Sanjay Khan had planned to make a movie based on Ramayana with plans of casting Hrithik Roshan as Lord Rama. But, did you know that a movie based on the Indian epic had already started rolling with Salman Khan as Lord Rama?
Must Read: Ramayana was planned with Hrithik Roshan and Amitabh Bachchan much before Ranbir Kapoor!
Salman Khan Shot 40% of Film as Lord Rama?
Reportedly, Sohail Khan had announced the project based on Ramayana in the early 90s. Following his debut as director with Auzaar, Sohail had made the huge announcement with Salman Khan as Lord Rama and Sonali Bendre as Devi Sita. The buzz around the project got louder after actor-filmmaker Pooja Bhatt came on board.
According to a report by Mid-Day and
Salman Khan donned the bow and arrow for the project with his brother Sohail at the helm. 40 per cent of the film had reportedly been shot. Even Sallu had begun promotions for the movie, appearing as Lord Rama in traditional attire, with bow and arrow.
However, the production was halted in the middle. Not due to creative differences or budget constraints, the movie was shelved for a budding off-screen relationship.
Why The Movie Was Shelved?
According to the reports, romance blossomed between Sohail and Pooja during the film's shoot. Notably, Pooja had spoken about their marriage during an interview in 1995. This indicated a serious growing relationship between the duo.
Also Read: Ramayana's budget is Rs 4000 crore! Why Namit Malhotra is taking 'risk'
However, when Salman and Sohail's father, Salim Khan, learned about their relationship, he reportedly advised his son to step back. At the time, Salman tried to maintain peace and complete the film. However, Pooja was upset with the cold reception from the Khan family and exited the film. This brought the movie's production to a halt, and it was ultimately shelved.
