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Veteran actor Aditya Pancholi has stirred a fresh conversation online after claiming that he was the original choice to star opposite Madhuri Dixit in the 1988 blockbuster Tezaab, before being replaced allegedly due to “industry politics and manipulation.” The actor, who recently joined X (formerly Twitter), shared a throwback photo from his early days along with a long note reflecting on the alleged incident. Without naming anyone directly, his post seemed to allude to Anil Kapoor and Boney Kapoor, prompting netizens to connect the dots. “I Was The Original Choice For Tezaab” In his post, Pancholi wrote, “I was the original choice for Tezaab (1988), opposite @MadhuriDixit. Director N. Chandra, still very much around, can confirm this. Unfortunately, an actor, through his elder brother (who remains active in the industry), influenced the director to replace me. The rest, as they say, is history.” I was the original choice for Tezaab (1988), opposite @MadhuriDixit . Director N. Chandra, still very much around can confirm this. Unfortunately, an actor, through his elder brother (who remains active in the industry), influenced the director to replace me. The rest, as they… pic.twitter.com/0GsBvsK2KG — Aditya Pancholi (@AdityaRPancholi) October 27, 2025 He then took aim at the hypocrisy surrounding the debate on nepotism in Bollywood, saying, “Recently, I saw an actor speak about nepotism while promoting his new release. Let me say this clearly: Politics in the film industry runs deeper than nepotism. Favouritism, manipulation, and power games shape careers more than family ties ever could.” Netizens React, Speculate He Meant Anil Kapoor Within hours, Pancholi’s post went viral, drawing strong reactions from users who speculated that he was referring to actor Anil Kapoor and producer Boney Kapoor. One user commented, “The actor you meant has always lobbied for roles and even edited out other actors’ scenes if they were better than his. He didn’t want Naseer Sahab in Parinda. That shows how insecure he was.” Pancholi replied cryptically, “Khuch baatein ankahi rehne dein (Let some things remain unsaid).” Another user brought up their later collaboration in Musafir (2004) and the alleged Trimurti controversy, asking if there had been tension on set. Pancholi responded, “I will write about Trimurti another time. Thanks.” While many sided with Pancholi, calling his revelation “a truth long overdue,” others defended Anil Kapoor, arguing that he ultimately proved to be the perfect fit for Tezaab. The Legacy Of Tezaab Directed by N. Chandra, Tezaab became one of the biggest hits of 1988 and played a crucial role in cementing Madhuri Dixit’s superstardom, thanks to the iconic song Ek Do Teen. The film’s mix of romance, revenge, and action made it a cult classic of its era, with Anil Kapoor’s portrayal of Munna becoming one of his most memorable performances. Alongside Anil and Madhuri, the film also featured Anupam Kher, Chunky Pandey, Suresh Oberoi, and Johnny Lever. Though decades have passed, Pancholi’s comments have reignited discussions around Bollywood’s inner workings — where, as he puts it, “power games and politics often write the script long before the camera rolls.”
