Shakti Kapoor has portrayed numerous eccentric characters throughout his career, with one standout being Crime Master Gogo in Rajkumar Santoshi’s cult classic Andaz Apna Apna, starring Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Raveena Tandon, and Karishma Kapoor. Surprisingly, Shakti Kapoor recently disclosed that another actor was initially considered the first choice for the role of Crime Master Gogo.
While discussing his involvement with a leading news portal, Shakti Kapoor recounted that around 70% of the filming had already been completed when he joined the project. Despite expressing concerns about scheduling conflicts and tight timelines, he mentioned that director Rajkumar Santoshi and the producer, who happened to be his friend, persisted in urging him to join. To find a compromise, he proposed shooting his scenes at night, contingent on the approval of the other stars.
He further added, “Then I reached out to Tinnu, asking if he was okay with me playing the role instead of him. He is a very good friend of mine and I wouldn’t have assumed the part without his permission. Fortunately, he had no reservations.”
Shakti Kapoor shared an anecdote about encountering Aamir Khan at an international airport, where Aamir mentioned searching for Crime Master Gogo’s t-shirt. Expressing surprise at the existence of such t-shirts, Shakti Kapoor’s son quickly found one and gifted it to Aamir. Later, at a party, Shakti noticed Aamir proudly wearing the t-shirt. This revelation led Shakti Kapoor to discover that Crime Master Gogo merchandise, including toys, were being sold, and there were even stalls named Crime Master Momos.
Andaz Apna Apna, starring Salman Khan and Aamir Khan, was released in 1994 but initially failed to make a strong impression on the audience in theatres, being declared a flop upon release. However, when it premiered on TV, it gained significant popularity and quickly transformed into one of the cult classics, earning acclaim from viewers over time.
See Also: Karisma Kapoor recalls Aamir Khan’s perfectionism during the shoot of Andaz Apna Apna
