Priyadarshan revealed that Paresh Rawal was not his first choice for the role of Radheshyam Tiwari in his 2003 film Hungama.
Paresh Rawal’s portrayal of Radheshyam Tiwari in Priyadarshan’s Hungama is a pop culture icon in its own right. The actor delivered a masterclass in comic timing in his role of a suspicious, short-tempered husband who is caught in a web of misunderstandings. His iconic dialogues turned the character into a meme-worthy figure on social media.
But do you guys know that Paresh Rawal was not the first choice for this role? In a recent interaction with Pinkvilla, Priyadarshan revealed that he originally wanted to cast Amitabh Bachchan as Radheshyam Tiwari. However, the megastar couldn’t be a part of the film as he was unwell, and the filmmaker eventually ended up casting Paresh Rawal.
The Malamaal Weekly director shared, “So, once I was planning to make Hungama I was thinking to approach Amit ji for the role of Paresh Rawal in that, he would have done magic. Of course Paresh did well. But then he (Amitabh) fell sick, he was not well, so I was forced to take Paresh.”
He continued, “Then so many times I was trying to make a script which suits him (Amitabh). And I think I have cracked something, I’m not sure whether it will happen or not. Now I’m making my last attempt to go to him with the script. But at the same time, that will be the only wish I have.”
Expressing his love for Big B, Priyadarshan told the publication that his biggest dream had always been to make a film with Amitabh Bachchan, whom he deeply admired. He recalled being such a devoted fan that he had once fallen while trying to buy tickets for Bachchan’s films like Kasauti, Deewar, and others. He admitted that he had never been a bigger fan of anyone else in his entire life and that even today, his admiration for the Bollywood superstar remains unchanged.
Further, the filmmaker expressed his desire to make a fun film with Amitabh, stating that he had never seen a better comedic performer than him. He lauded Big B’s ability to deliver humor with a straight face, highlighting the actor’s remarkable range and subtle comic timing.
Drawing a comparison to Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, he said that the Drishyam star was the only other actor he had seen who could effortlessly transition between diverse roles- be it a superhero, a tough cop, or a buffoon. According to him, Sr Bachchan shares a similar versatility and possesses a unique sense of humor that he feels, hasn’t yet been fully explored in his own films.
Priyadarshan hoped to one day collaborate with Bachchan on a light-hearted project that would showcase this side of his talent.
Coming back to Hungama, besides Paresh Rawal, the film also stars Akshaye Khanna, Aftab Shivdasani, Rimi Sen, Shoma Anand, Rajpal Yadav, amongst others.
