Ranveer Singh in Toilet: Ek Prem Katha? As protagonist Keshav Sharma – the character Akshay Kumar made famous in one of Bollywood’s biggest hits of 2017? That’s right! It almost happened. But for the mercurial actor’s reported insistence that first time director Shree Narayan Singh make the socially relevant film under the Yash Raj Films banner.

Here’s the story. When Ranveer was approached with Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, the producer was Friday Filmworks only. The other major production houses came on board later. But Ranveer reportedly wanted Toilet Ek Prem Katha, which he liked immediately, made by YRF only because it handles his films and PR. He was also doubtful about Shree Narayan Singh’s capabilities as a director.

There were also other issues that apparently bothered Ranveer about this film. Much as he liked the story, the title put him off. And he wanted that changed too. But the producer and director stuck their ground. They didn’t agree to Ranveer’s demand that YRF be brought on board. And so the adamant Ranveer, after keeping Shree Narayan Singh and Friday Filmworks dangling for long, finally and almost reluctantly rejected Toilet: Ek Prem Katha. Just when the filmmakers were thinking of casting Sonakshi Sinha opposite him!

All of which didn’t stop Ranveer from enthusiastically joining Akshay Kumar in a mad victory jig afterToilet: Ek Prem Katha became a box office hit and promoting the video of this wild and joyous celebration wholeheartedly on social media. For which Ranveer must take a bow! The actor is about to play the role of a lifetime in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati next. He is known for quickly getting over his box office disasters. Like Befikre in 2016, Kill Dil in 2014 and Lootera in the year before that. And he does not waste time regretting the bad choices of films he made in his seven-year career. But what about choices he did not make? Like Toilet: Ek Prem Katha?

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