Why did Vinod Khanna refuse for Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘Namak Halal’?

Last updated:March 14, 2025, 04:02 IST

Vinod Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan were one of the most successful pair of Indian cinema. They did nine films together. Nevertheless, once Vinod Khanna turned down a film by Amitabh Bachchan, which is the third lowest of that year…Read more

Vinod Khanna refused Prakash Mehra for the film. Photo courtesy-@IMDB

New Delhi. An action comedy film that is included in the top 10 films of the century superstar Amitabh Bachchan. Although more than one film has been made in Bollywood, but such films have been made very rare, which has a strong story, whose dialogues climb the tongue and the songs are such that they are lukewarm for centuries. In the 70s, people used to say that only Vinod Khanna can replace Amitabh Bachchan. At that time, the audience loved Amitabh and Vinod. Both of them did about 9 films together and were mostly hits. At one time, the pair of both became a guarantee of hit film. But do you know that Vinod Khanna refused to do a film that he liked very much. Amitabh Bachchan was also in the film. What was the reason, let’s tell funny anecdote.

‘I can talk English, I can walk English, I can lof English Bikos, English is a very funny language!’ ‘What do you do? ‘Your servant is the owner, Namak Halal…’ After hearing these dialogues, you must have remembered the name of the film. This film made under the direction of Prakash Mehra is ‘Namak Halal’.

Vinod Khanna was the first choice of makers
Vinod Khanna was the first choice of makers for this film. Amitabh Bachchan played the lead role in the film. His fun dialogues and Big B’s comedy ruled the hearts.

Vinod Khanna’s neither and Shashi Kapoor’s luck opened
Both of them were seen competing with each other in the films that Vinod Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan did. The film, which came in 1982, had rocked the screen. Vinod Khanna turned his face and Shashi Kapoor’s luck with the film. This was the first time Vinod rejected Amitabh Bachchan’s film.

Prakash Mehra wanted Karishma like ‘Mukaddar Ka Sikander’
According to reports, Vinod Khanna was contacted for the role of ‘Raja Singh’. Before ‘Namak Halal’, the two worked together in ‘Mukaddar Ka Sikander’ in 1978. The film was the highest grossing film of the year. After this film, Prakash Mehra hoped from the pair that the same magic would be repeated again with ‘Namak Halal’. However, this time Vinod turned down the film and then Shashi Kapoor was contacted for the role.

Why Vinod Khanna said ‘no’ for ‘Namak Halal’
There are different reasons in many reports behind Vinod’s refusal. According to some reports, Vinod Bachchan-starrer was tired of playing second character in films. So he turned down the film. According to some other reports, during ‘Namak Halal’, Vinod was planning to leave Bollywood and join Osho’s ashram. So he rejected this offer of Prakash Mehra. According to some other reports, Vinod’s schedule was very busy, so he refused to do the film.

Salt Halal’s box office collection?
Talking about ‘Namak Halal’, this film was released in theaters on April 30, 1982. The film received a positive response. The film became the third highest grossing film of that year. After ‘Prem Disease’ and ‘Vidhata’, ‘Namak Halal’ earned about Rs 12 crore in India.