The hit thriller “Race” faced a tough start, with director duo Abbas-Mustan revealing that several top stars found the script too confusing, and even lead actor Saif Ali Khan initially tried to quit the film behind their backs.
The Script That Confused Bollywood Stars
Abbas-Mustan, known for their intricate thrillers, faced a major hurdle while casting their 2008 blockbuster, “Race.” They shared that finding a lead actor for the film was incredibly difficult.
According to the directors, five of the biggest stars in Bollywood at the time rejected the film. They all struggled to understand the complex, grey-shaded plot. One actor even famously described the narration as feeling like “getting repeatedly hit in the head with a hammer.”
These established actors simply didn’t want to commit to a project they couldn’t fully grasp, despite being close friends with the director duo.
Saif Ali Khan’s Unexpected Journey to “Race”
After multiple rejections, their producer suggested approaching Saif Ali Khan. At that point in his career, Saif was looking to move away from his romantic hero image and explore different roles.
Interestingly, Saif also admitted that he didn’t fully understand the script, even after reading it several times. However, he agreed to do the film on one condition: it had to feature great songs.
What many didn’t know then was that Saif later had second thoughts. Abbas-Mustan revealed he even went behind their backs, attempting to wiggle his way out of the project before filming began.
Mastering the Mind Game
Abbas-Mustan emphasize that their main goal is to “play with the audience’s mind” and deliver unpredictable stories. This philosophy was clearly evident in “Race,” which kept viewers guessing with its numerous twists.
Even superstar Amitabh Bachchan was captivated by the film. He once told the directors that he watched “Race” on a flight and was completely “stunned for three hours” because he couldn’t predict where the story was going.
The “Inspiration” Behind the Thrills
During the film’s production, a humorous incident occurred. Actress Bipasha Basu, while on set, mentioned watching a film called “Goodbye Lover” and noted its striking similarities to “Race.”
When confronted by Saif, Abbas-Mustan sheepishly admitted that they had indeed been “inspired” by the Hollywood thriller. This candid admission became a lighthearted anecdote from the film’s making.
The Enduring Legacy of Race
“Race” went on to be a massive success, spawning a sequel, “Race 2,” which also starred Saif Ali Khan. While a third installment featured Salman Khan and didn’t involve Abbas-Mustan, discussions are reportedly underway for a fourth film with Saif returning to the lead role.
- Five major Bollywood stars initially rejected the “Race” script due to its complex plot.
- Saif Ali Khan agreed to the film despite not fully understanding it, but later tried to quit.
- Abbas-Mustan’s goal is to create unpredictable thrillers that engage the audience’s mind.
- The film “Race” was openly acknowledged by the directors as being “inspired” by “Goodbye Lover.”
