Did You Know Amrish Puri Was Supposed To Play Mogambo's Brother Zorambo In Andaz Apna Apna?

Amrish Puri was originally slated to be part of Andaz Apna Apna. Puri was supposed to play the role of Zorambo, a character designed as the complete opposite of Mogambo from 'Mr India'.

'Andaz Apna Apna', starring Salman Khan and Aamir Khan, is a Bollywood gem that has achieved cult status over the years. Although it didn't draw large crowds to theaters when it was first released, the film has since garnered a dedicated fanbase. The movie is cherished for its hilarious dialogues, the dynamic duo of Salman and Aamir, the charm of Karisma Kapoor and Raveena Tandon, and some unforgettable characters. 

Amrish Puri was supposed to play Zorambo

What many fans might not know is that the legendary Amrish Puri was originally slated to be part of the film. Puri was supposed to play the role of Zorambo, a character designed as the complete opposite of his iconic villain Mogambo from 'Mr India'. According to the script, Zorambo was Mogambo's brother, contrasting sharply with the menacing villain. While Mogambo famously declared, "Mogambo khush hua," Zorambo was to be a sorrowful character who would say, "Zorambo khush nahi hua." 

In an old interview clip that is doing the rounds on social media, director Rajkumar Santoshi said, “Amrish ji was playing Mogambo’s younger brother Zorambo. His dialogue was, ‘Mera bhai choti choti baaton mein khush ho jaata tha, wo chala gya, main khush nahi hota. Nobody can make me happy.’ Costume ban gya tha, Zorambo's costume was white, a stark contrast to Mogambo's black attire.” 

Santoshi then shared that while the costume and everything was ready for Zorambo, the character was removed from the film as it was getting lengthy. 

In Amborish Roychoudhary's book 'In A Cult of Their Own: Bollywood Beyond Box Office,' the author quotes Santoshi, "Mogambo used to wear black, Zorambo wore white. Mogambo had white hair, Zorambo had black hair... Always serious, never smiles. Amar and Prem used to say, 'Kisi tarah khush karo yaar isko (Do something to please him).' It was like that. We had spoken to Amrish Puri and everything. But then we thought length-wise it is not working. But Crime Master Gogo was always a part of the script. He had a small part." 

About Andaz Apna Apna

Initially a box office flop upon its release in the 90s, 'Andaz Apna Apna' has since got a status of an iconic comedy. Its repeated TV broadcasts, online streaming, and other formats have captivated audiences, earning it a high IMDb rating of 8.20. To this day, the film remains widely viewed and continues to be celebrated for its comedic brilliance.