Missing out on a dream role can haunt an actor for years, and Sharib Hashmi is bravely opening up about his own lingering regrets. In a recent interview, the actor candidly shared his experiences of narrowly missing out on two iconic roles in Bollywood blockbusters: Vicky Kaushal’s part in Sanju and Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s role in Bajrangi Bhaijaan. But here’s where it gets intriguing—Hashmi wasn’t just a casual contender; he was deeply in the running for these roles, making the missed opportunities all the more bittersweet.
Hashmi revealed that he was a strong contender for the role of Kamli in Sanju, directed by the legendary Rajkumar Hirani. The audition process was extensive, and he was shortlisted for quite some time before the role ultimately went to Vicky Kaushal. Reflecting on this, he told Filmygyan, “Mujhe Sanju ka ek bada afsos hai, jo role kiya tha Kamli ka, uske liye mein kaafi shortlist hua tha, kaafi time tak chal raha tha. To vo ek afsos hai.” (One big regret I have is Sanju. For the role of Kamli, I was shortlisted, and the process lasted quite some time. So that remains a regret.) This candid admission sheds light on the emotional rollercoaster actors often face behind the scenes.
And this is the part most people miss—Hashmi also auditioned for the role played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, directed by Kabir Khan and starring Salman Khan. He was shortlisted and went through multiple rounds of auditions before the role slipped away. “Fir Bajrangi Bhaijaan me jo Nawazuddin Siddiqui ne kiya tha, uske liye bhi mene audition diya tha aur shortlist hua tha, kuch rounds of audition hue the mere, but vo naseeb ki baat hai,” he added. (Then, for Bajrangi Bhaijaan, the role that Nawazuddin Siddiqui played, I had auditioned for that as well and was shortlisted. I went through a few rounds of auditions, but that’s a matter of destiny.)
But here’s the controversial part: While both films became massive commercial successes—with Sanju starring Ranbir Kapoor as Sanjay Dutt—Hashmi chooses to view these missed opportunities as a lesson in destiny. He calls it “naseeb ki baat,” acknowledging that some roles, despite coming so close, are simply not meant to be. This perspective raises a thought-provoking question: Is success in the film industry purely about talent and timing, or is there an element of fate that no one can control?
Hashmi’s openness about his regrets not only humanizes the often glamorous world of Bollywood but also sparks a conversation about the unseen struggles actors face. It’s a reminder that behind every blockbuster, there are countless stories of near-misses and what-ifs. What do you think? Is destiny a real factor in an actor’s career, or is it all about perseverance and opportunity? Share your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate that’s sure to spark differing opinions!
