Even though he is a Star kid he started his journey with a scratch. A background dancer in the late 90s he then entered his sweet chocolate boy era officially stepping into the spotlight in 2003 with Ishq Vishq a teen romance that turned into a sleeper hit. But the road ahead wasn’t smooth! But not every Bollywood star begins with a grand launch or a string of hits — some build their legacy one stumble at a time. And Shahid Kapoor’s story in B-town is pretty similar. Despite making his fans and critics go gaga over his performance in a handful of movies like Kaminey Haider and Badmaash Company Shahid’s career remained inconsistent peppered with more flops than hits — until 2019 changed everything. Enter Kabir Singh — a film that rewrote his destiny. The Bollywood remake of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Telugu cult hit Arjun Reddy Kabir Singh had everything riding against it: controversy bold content and high expectations. But it shattered all doubts.  Kabir Singhs budget and earnings Made on a modest Rs 60 crore budget the film stormed the box office and minted Rs 379 crore globally becoming the second highest-grossing Hindi film of the year. More importantly it reestablished Shahid Kapoor as a bankable leading man. Was Shahid Kapoor not the first choice for the film? But wait a minute. Did you know Shahid Kapoor wasn’t the first choice for the film? Yep! Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga initially wanted Ranveer Singh to step into the role. However Ranveer turned down the offer reportedly finding the script “too dark” according to reports. Ironically Vanga’s intensity and storytelling would later give Ranbir Kapoor the biggest hit of his career with Animal (2023). Seems like Ranveer took notes — he’s now set to appear in the gritty action drama Dhurandhar. Meanwhile Kabir Singh didn’t just revive Shahid’s career — it also marked Vanga’s explosive Bollywood debut. The film stirred debates sparked memes and divided critics but one thing was certain: it struck a chord with the masses. From dancing in the shadows to headlining a Rs 379 crore sensation Shahid Kapoor’s journey is a Bollywood plot twist in itself — one that almost belonged to someone else.