Overview
- Hema Malini says she first noticed Shah Rukh Khan in the TV series Fauji and cast him for a rich heir’s role in her 1992 film Dil Aashna Hai.
- She recalls Dharmendra endorsing the choice and contributing some dialogue for Khan during the film’s early phase.
- Producer Viveck Vaswani recounts a meeting at Malini’s home, claiming she told Khan he was “very ugly” and that Aamir Khan and Salman Khan had declined the role.
- Vaswani says Malini offered Rs 50,000 to sign Khan and that the approach came when Khan was staying at Vaswani’s home.
- He outlines the early timeline as Dil Aashna Hai being first signed, King Uncle the first shoot, and Deewana the first release, noting these details reflect personal recollections.