Akshaye replaced Anil Kapoor in SHORTKUT

If the original cast of SHORTKUT - THE CON IS ON would have remained intact, audiences would have seen Anil Kapoor playing the role that Akshaye Khanna eventually went on to play. Also, Arshad was a late entry into the project as he enacted the part that was written for Akshaye.

Confirms Anil Kapoor, 'Yes, the film did see some casting changes though all of it happened before it went on floors. Akshaye was always the first choice for the film and he was on board immediately. After GANDHI: MY FATHER, it was but natural that he acts in my next production as well.'

However, due to a couple of reasons Anil Kapoor had to opt out of the project in the capacity of an actor and stay on primarily as a producer.

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Anil Kapoor explains, 'Originally I was supposed to do Akshaye's role and he was to do Arshad's role. It was around the same time that Subhash Ghai asked me to do BLACK & WHITE. I had no reason to say 'no' since I have very high regard for him. We have worked in some wonderful movies together (RAM LAKHAN, KARMA, TAAL) and with BLACK & WHITE we would have come together after a long time.'

Around the same time, his dates were also clashing with Yash Raj Films' TASHAN and Anil Kapoor was left with no other choice but to rethink around the casting for his own production.

'Subhash-ji certainly wanted me in his project and requested me if I could postpone SHORTKUT - THE CON IS ON for a while. Since I couldn't do that since we were ready to kick start our project, I proposed to move out of my own project. This is when I requested Akshaye to step into the role written for me', he reveals.