Shahid Kapoor, Shah Rukh Khan and Ranveer Singh
Shahid Kapoor in Padmaavat, Shah Rukh Khan and Ranveer Singh in Padmaavat.Twitter/Getty Images

Both Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor are getting a massive appreciation for their brilliance in Padmaavat. Both the actors, as Alauddin Khilji and Rawal Ratan Singh respectively, have left the critics and the audience in awe.

However, if reports are to be believed, both the roles were initially offered to superstar Shah Rukh Khan. According to Catch News, director Sanjay Leela Bhansali first approached SRK with the role of Rawal Ratan Singh.

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But Shah Rukh felt that the story of Padmaavat mostly revolved around the characters of Alauddin Khilji and Padmavati, and hence he rejected the offer, the report said.

The entertainment portal added that after knowing about the reason behind the rejection, Bhansali later approached King Khan to play the dominant character of Khilji, but he turned down the offer again.

Shah Rukh was facing some backlash for his film Raees when Bhansali came to him, and so the Zero actor was worried that this character might again put him in trouble, the report added.

Shah Rukh Khan, Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Shah Rukh Khan, Sanjay Leela BhansaliReuters

Meanwhile, Padmaavat, which was earlier titled Padmavati, has released amidst a lot of trouble. Members of Karni Sena have been carrying on violent protests in many parts of the country opposing its release.

There have been many reports of public property being damaged, and vehicles being set on fire. The fringe outfit drew nationwide condemnation as the protestors attacked a school bus, with kids and teachers inside it, at Gurugram.

The protesters have been alleging that the film presents the character of Rani Padmini, played by Deepika Padukone in bad light. Although the makers of the film have repeatedly assured of no such objectionable scenes are in the film, the fringe group remained adamant on banning the film. 

Nonetheless, Padmaavat has already hit the theatres, and has been wining a lot of accolades. Meanwhile, Shah Rukh will next be seen in Aanand L Rai's Zero that also features Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma in key roles.

The film will present SRK in never-seen-before avatar of a dwarf. The first look teaser of Zero had showed the superstar dancing on a popular old track. It had raised the curiosity level of the fans to great heights, and now people are eagerly waiting for the trailer.