Shiney Ahuja was the first choice for Chulbul Pandey!

Salman Khan’s curious appeal has hit the jackpot again! The actor’s cop act in ‘Dabangg’ as Chulbul ‘Robinhood’ Pandey has taken the nation by storm. However, the film may not have become such a super-hit, if the director would have gone ahead with his first choice for the lead role. Grapevine has it that debutante director Abhinav Kashyap had first offered the role to none other than Shiney Ahuja.

Spicezee bureau

Mumbai: Salman Khan’s curious appeal has hit the jackpot again! The actor’s cop act in ‘Dabangg’ as Chulbul ‘Robinhood’ Pandey has taken the nation by storm. However, the film may not have become such a super-hit, if the director would have gone ahead with his first choice for the lead role - Shiney Ahuja! Grapevine has it that debutante director Abhinav Kashyap had first offered the role to none other than Shiney Ahuja. But the actor, who at that point of time was battling alleged rape case in court, spurned the offer, perhaps because he was apprehensive about playing a corrupt cop after the taint. But Shiney’s refusal was like a blessing in disguise for the director. Unable to find the right person to play the lead role in ‘Dabangg’, Abhinav and producer Arbaaz Khan approached Salman Khan. And guess what? When Salman gave his nod to play Chulbul Pandey, Arbaaz first thought he was joking. It took him some time to sink in that the superstar had indeed agreed to play the role. The rest, as you can see, looks strong to create another milestone. Salman put so much spunk and style in the character that Chulbul Pandey has now become the desi Robin Hood.