In the ever-shifting landscape of Bollywood, some names quietly slip through the cracks, leaving behind haunting echoes of what could have been. Raj Kiran is one such name—a gifted actor whose sensitive performances in films like Arth and Karz left an indelible mark, yet whose sudden disappearance from the public eye turned him into a tragic mystery. On his 76th birthday, the industry still wonders: where is Raj Kiran?In an exclusive revelation to ETimes, filmmaker Rajiv Rai opens up about an often-overlooked chapter in Bollywood history—how Raj Kiran was the original choice for the iconic ‘Jhakaas’ role that eventually made Anil Kapoor a household name. Rai not only reflects on his only casting regret but also offers a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the decisions that shaped Yudh, a film remembered for its bold narrative and Kapoor’s double role.Where is Raj Kiran—the affable actor from Mahesh Bhatt’s Arth, who sang Jagjit Singh’s Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho to Shabana Azmi—on his 76th birthday today, wherever he may be?What really happened to him?Filmmaker Rajiv Rai, who had cast Raj Kiran in a pivotal role in Yudh, recalls how the actor was eventually dropped from the blockbuster.“I have only one regret when it comes to casting in my films—and that happened in Yudh. The character that Anil Kapoor played, the one who famously said ‘Jhakaas’, was originally written for Raj Kiran. But I ended up knocking the character off too early in the plot. I realized that was a mistake, but by the time I saw the film, it was too late.”
That, Rai says, remains his only casting misstep.“Apart from that one incident, I’ve never felt regretful about any of my casting choices. In Yudh, I shouldn’t have killed off Anil Kapoor’s ‘Jhakaas’ character in the 12th or 13th reel—out of a total of about 17 reels. Yes, we used to work with physical reels in those days. So, about two-thirds into the film, the character of the bad guy—one of Anil’s double roles—gets killed.”Rajiv admits he never anticipated that the now-iconic ‘Jhakaas’ catchphrase would resonate so deeply with audiences.“I was always a bit skeptical. The script had been written five years before the film was shot, originally with Raj Kiran in mind. That worked fine in theory. But once Anil Kapoor came on board and delivered such a strong performance, I realized—my God, I’m killing off the very character the audience is loving! So yes, in hindsight, I think I made a mistake there.”
