Before Zayed Khan became the mischievous yet lovable Lucky in Main Hoon Na, the role had already been turned down by big names like Hrithik Roshan, Abhishek Bachchan, and Sohail Khan. In a recent interview, Zayed opened up about how fate—and a surprise meeting with Shah Rukh Khan—landed him the part in what would become one of the most iconic films of the 2000s.
On Siddharth Kannan’s podcast, Zayed shared that landing the role in Main Hoon Na came as a complete surprise. He wasn’t even aware he was being considered. The part had initially been offered to Hrithik Roshan, followed by Sohail Khan and then Abhishek Bachchan, but things didn’t work out with any of them. Around that time, Zayed happened to call Farah Khan for help with a song’s choreography. Before he could explain, Farah abruptly asked him to come to her office—setting the wheels in motion for his casting.
When Zayed arrived, he quickly realised it wasn’t Farah Khan’s office—the walls were filled with Shah Rukh Khan’s photos. Confused, he asked Farah about the choreography help he’d called her for. She shut him down with a “just shut up,” saying SRK wanted to talk to him. Moments later, Shah Rukh walked in and, with his trademark charm, said, “Don’t listen to her—we’ve called you because we’re considering you for a role.” Stunned, Zayed gave an impromptu audition on the spot. Farah, without saying a word, simply walked out after watching him perform.
The actor also recalled how Farah Khan confirmed his casting just before driving off, leaving him so thrilled that he hugged a tree out of excitement. However, he shared that the real challenge began after landing the role, as many around him offered constant, unsolicited advice—warning him about screen time and suggesting how to act. Instead of getting distracted, Zayed chose to stay focused and simply felt grateful for the opportunity to work with Shah Rukh Khan and Farah Khan.