Deepak Tijori, a dynamic Indian actor and filmmaker, emerged as a significant presence in Bollywood during the 1990s. Renowned for his compelling performances, particularly in supporting roles, Tijori became the go-to actor for portraying the quintessential “best friend” in some of the industry’s most iconic films. Despite his undeniable talent and the depth he brought to these roles, Tijori, unlike many of his peers, didn’t get much opportunity to shine as a leading man. In a candid recent interview, Tijori opened up about a missed opportunity that could have changed the course of his career. He recalled how acclaimed filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt had cast him as the lead in a film that, unfortunately, never materialized.
After his breakthrough performances in Aashiqui and Sadak, Deepak nearly secured a lead role in a Mahesh Bhatt-directed film titled Adhure Log, where he was to play an usher guiding theatergoers to their seats—a role Bhatt believed Deepak was perfect for. The project, however, was scrapped before it could take off, and with it, Deepak’s hopes of being recognized as a leading man in a Bhatt film were dashed.
The actor shared with Indian Express, “To my excitement, I was finally feeling the taste of playing a lead role in a film directed by my dream director, Mahesh Bhatt. I was walking two feet above the ground, as Bhatt saab also did a photo shoot with me in an empty cinema hall. Seeing those pictures, he was even more convinced that I would be the right choice, the only choice, to play that character. I can say that convincingly now, as he never replaced me with anyone else to play that role but scrapped the whole film.”
The decision not to cast Deepak in the lead role was influenced by Mukesh Bhatt, who, despite recognizing Deepak’s popularity as a supporting actor, didn’t believe audiences would accept him as the hero. This rejection left Deepak feeling disheartened, particularly as he compared his career trajectory to those of superstars like Amitabh Bachchan and Mithun Chakraborty, who had successfully transitioned from smaller roles to stardom, “He told Bhatt saab: ‘Deepak ko sabne as a supporting character pasand kiya hai, so I don’t think I can risk giving him the lead role. Agar aapko ye kahaani banaani hai, toh take a new boy but not Deepak,’” Deepak recounted.
Deepak Tijori’s portrayal of memorable characters in movies like Aashiqui (1990), Khiladi (1992), Sadak (1991), Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), and Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994) established him as a reliable actor who could bring humor, emotional depth, and relatability to his roles.
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