Did You Know? Pulkit Samrat Was Set To Play Shah Rukh Khan’s Son In Fauji Sequel In 2009

Long before Shah Rukh Khan became the ‘King of Bollywood,’ he was captivating audiences on television in the iconic 1988 series Fauji. Now, the classic show is getting a fresh twist with a sequel, featuring actress Ankita Lokhande’s husband and Bigg Boss fame Vikas Jain and Gauahar Khan in lead roles. But did you know that before this adaptation King Khan himself had plans to revive Fauji back in 2009 through his production company, Red Chillies Entertainment, casting Pulkit Samrat and Roopal Tyagi for key roles. A report in India Today revealed that Pulkit was set to play Shah Rukh’s son, and filming had already begun.

Unfortunately, the project was abruptly shelved for reasons that remain a mystery.

Speaking to India Today, both Pulkit and Roopal shared their memories and how it felt to collaborate with the iconic actor. The Fukrey actor described the feeling as, “surreal,” and added, “That is where I got a chance to shoot with him. Just imagine, a guy from Delhi, who has come to Mumbai following SRK’s footsteps gets a chance to play his on-screen son in a show produced by Red Chillies. I was lucky enough to shoot with him and he was extremely kind, extremely humble. He shared his trade secrets with me. He taught me how to own a set and how to use the space around you as an actor. His kind words and his warmth still stay with me.”

Roopal Tyagi added, “This was the mahurat of Fauji 2, and I was the lead. Shah Rukh Khan had absolutely no reason to know each and every cast member’s name or their characters’. But he made efforts to know us all and what characters we were playing. He kissed everyone’s forehead. He told us, ‘I wish what Fauji 1 did for me, Fauji 2 does for you.’ It’s really unfortunate that the show never came on air.”

Fauji revolved around Shah Rukh Khan’s character, Abhimanyu Rai, who underwent rigorous training to become an army commando. The series not only showcased the intense physical challenges faced by aspiring soldiers but also highlighted their camaraderie and dedication.

In the upcoming reboot, alongside Vikas Jain, 12 more actors will be introduced, including Aashish Bhardwaj, Utkarsh Kohli, Charkhi Dadri, Rudra Soni, Aman Singh Deep, Ayaan Manchanda, Niel Satpuda, Suvansh Dhar, Priyanshu Rajguru, Udit Kapur, Maansi and Sushmita Bhandari.