Felt I couldn't punch Sunny Deol: Sudesh Berry on losing Yash Chopra's Darr to SRK
Actor Sudesh Berry has recalled that he was offered Yash Chopra’s Darr (1993) and even had costumes prepared for the film before he was dropped
Actor Sudesh Berry has recalled that he was offered Yash Chopra’s Darr (1993) and even had costumes prepared for the film before he was dropped and Shah Rukh Khan was cast instead. Sudesh said he was told the change happened because, in the later part of the film, his character had to punch the other male lead, and it did not seem convincing with a bigger star such as Sunny Deol opposite him. Read Full Story Speaking on the Accompany Akki podcast, Sudesh said he had almost been finalised for the role of Rahul Mehra before the makers changed course. He said the actor being considered for the other principal role was always someone with a bigger screen presence. “I was offered the role in Darr, and even my costumes were ready.
What happened afterwards was the person who was supposed to play the other character (the male lead) was always a bigger actor. Initially, it was Rishi Kapoor, then Aamir Khan was considered, and then they finally cast Sunny Deol,” he said. Sudesh said he later heard that the issue was linked to a scene towards the end of the film. He said Yash Chopra felt he was still too new to be placed in that situation against a bigger star. “Towards the end, there’s a shot of my character punching the other person. Whoever played the other character, it appeared as if a bigger actor was being punched by Sudesh Berry. This is what I heard; I haven’t seen the movie to date.
Yash ji was a maker too, and makers are always a bit passionate. They are able to make such good movies because of that passion,” he said. Sudesh also spoke about his contemporaries, including Shah Rukh and actor Aamir Khan, and said that luck had played a part alongside hard work. He described them as fortunate and blessed, while saying that everyone in the industry had worked hard. The actor highlighted that while everyone works hard, success often comes down to luck, but ultimately, all actors share the same roots and industry space. Sudesh highlighted that Shah Rukh is blessed because of his wife Gauri’s name bringing divine grace, while stars like Aamir, Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Akshay Kumar are fortunate simply to have received their big break.
Shah Rukh had made his feature film debut with Raj Kanwar’s Deewana in 1992, but it was Abbas–Mustan’s Baazigar and Yash Chopra’s Darr, both released in 1993, that took him to greater heights. He played grey-shaded roles in both films. Darr also began his long association with Yash Chopra, with whom he later joined forces in films such as Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Dil To Pagal Hai, Mohabbatein, Veer-Zaara, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Jab Tak Hai Jaan. On the professional front, Berry was last seen in a cameo in actor Sunny Deol's Border 2 (2026). Ends
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