Nayak 2 in the making? When Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan's rejected film became one of Anil Kapoor's finest performance
Anil Kapoor is likely to work on Nayak sequel soon, but do you know that he almost missed out on one of his best performances to superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan?
Last Updated: 01.16 PM, Jan 04, 2026
Anil Kapoor has been trending over the buzz that Nayak sequel could happen 25 years after its release. The 2001 movie became one of his career-defining films. His politics opposite Amrish Puri remains iconic in Bollywood till date. The movie was one of the prime examples of a Box Office flop turning into a cult over the years. It is why superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan also passed on the opportunity and we eventually witnessed one of Anil Kapoor's finest performances in Hindi films.
Is Nayak 2 in the making?
Nayak 2 is likely to happen soon. The buzz was created after Anil Kapoor acquired the rights for the film. A source confirmed the same to Bollywood Hungama stating, “Producer Deepak Mukut of Sanam Teri Kasam (2016) fame held the rights to Nayak. It is said that Anil Kapoor has bought the rights from him. He plans to hold the rights as it’s a film close to his heart. Also, he aspires to make a sequel to it. He is fully aware of the love he has garnered for the film over the years and he also is of the belief that the subject of Nayak has tremendous potential for a second part.”
When Anil Kapoor almost lost Nayak to Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan
There was a time when Anil Kapoor almost lost the original film to superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan. Anil Kapoor chased the director and thus, we got to witness the magic of the film. The actor had confirmed the same to Hindustan Times by stating, "I pursued Shankar (director) after Nayak was passed up by both Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh. To this date, I’m glad I did." At the time, while Anil Kapoor did not realize how the movie would shape up his career, he was certain that something special was in the works. It now appears that Anil is ready for the sequel of the movie years after its release.
About Nayak
The Hindi adaptation of Tamil film Mudhalvan (1999), Shankar's Nayak was the story of what a common man would do if he became the Chief Minister for a day. Apart from Anil Kapoor and Amrish Puri, Nayak also starred Rani Mukerji, Paresh Rawal, Saurabh Shukla, Johny Lever, Shivaji Satam and Neena Kulkarni. Pooja Batra and Sushmita Sen made cameo appearances in the film.
Nayak FAQs
Q. What is Nayak about?
A. Nayak is a 2001 Indian Hindi-language political action film directed by Shankar, starring Anil Kapoor, Rani Mukerji, Amrish Puri, and Paresh Rawal. The film is a remake of Shankar's 1999 Tamil-language film Mudhalvan.
Q. Who is the main character?
A. Shivaji Rao, played by Anil Kapoor, is the main character, a television cameraman who accidentally records a conversation between the police and the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Balraj Chauhan.
Q. What are the themes?
A. The film explores themes of corruption, power, and redemption.