When Aamir Khan was picked at Rs 17 lakh over Shah Rukh Khan despite quoting Rs 6 lakh to seal Mannat!

Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan stand today as two of Bollywood’s biggest icons, yet their paths to superstardom were shaped very differently. While both were young, charming, and immensely talented in the early ’90s, their on-screen images set them apart.

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Aamir entered the industry as the boy-next-door with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, instantly winning hearts with his clean, innocent persona. Shah Rukh, on the other hand, made his mark with unconventional roles in films like Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman and later as the anti-hero, carving out a darker, edgier image. This distinction often influenced filmmakers’ choices- and in one particular case, Aamir remained the first preference despite SRK’s tempting offer.

The Casting Call That Sparked Debate

Before SRK achieved the superstar status he enjoys today, ad filmmaker Prahlad Kakkar faced a decision that would become a memorable story in the industry. The ad film, featuring Mahima Chaudhry and Aishwarya Rai, had both Aamir and Shah Rukh in consideration. But despite SRK’s eagerness, Kakkar leaned towards Aamir.

SRK’s Offer Linked to Mannat

Recalling the episode, Kakkar told Vickey Lalwani, “Aamir was charging some Rs 17 lakhs and Shah Rukh was only charging Rs 6 Lakh at that time. And why Shah Rukh was charging Rs 6 Lakh was also because he was short of Rs 6 Lakh for buying his house (Mannat). So he said, I am short of Rs 6 Lakh, you give me and I will do the ad. So I said he is not right for the film. I wanted the actor. I wanted someone who had the image of an actor. Money was not my concern. Then they went round the mulberry bush and then after about six months of negotiating Aamir said yes. He didn’t say yes to them, they said yes to him. He didn’t budge.”

Why Aamir Was the Perfect Fit

For Kakkar, the choice wasn’t about budget- it was about image. He explained, “What was differentiating the two at that time because they were both very young, very good looking, very charming?"

What tilted the scales in Aamir’s favour was his wholesome appeal. 

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“The image that Aamir had with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak was an innocent boy next door. Just a nice, clean boy. And that’s what I needed for the ad film. And Shah Rukh was there but he didn’t have such a clean image. Because his first film was *Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman*. Or something like that. And the character that he played was not as squeaky clean as the character that Aamir played.”