In an exclusive interview with The Indian Express, Arbaaz Khan discussed the film Khiladi and explained the reason behind his inability to join the project. He mentioned being approached by the same directors for another film instead.
Detailing his reason for declining the role, he explained that he had prior commitments with another director, which prevented him from taking on the film Khiladi, where he was offered the part eventually played by Akshay Kumar. Unfortunately, the project he was already committed to also fell through. Nonetheless, he acknowledged Khiladi’s success and its role in propelling Akshay Kumar to stardom.
However, Abbas-Mustan always had Arbaaz Khan in mind, and they approached him again with their film Daraar which is his debut film.
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In the interview, Arbaaz disclosed that following Khiladi, the same team approached him for Daraar, indicating their continued interest in working with him. He also mentioned receiving a signing amount of Rs 1 lakh for the film. Reflecting on this, he emphasized that the payment was more symbolic than substantial, as his primary focus was on the opportunity itself rather than monetary gain. Arbaaz emphasized that, at the time, the significance of making his debut outweighed the financial aspect.
Arbaaz reflected on his experience working on Daraar, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to collaborate with established actors like Juhi Chawla and Rishi Kapoor. Despite being a newcomer, he found himself in scenes alongside these seasoned performers. Arbaaz admitted that it was challenging to hold his own in such esteemed company, but he credited the director’s guidance and the support of his co-stars for helping him deliver a commendable performance.
Arbaaz Khan recently entered into his second marriage. He exchanged vows with makeup artist Sshura Khan in December 2023.