In 1997 Koyla was expected to be a big hit thanks to its high-budget action-packed storyline and the star power of its leads. While Shah Rukh Khan eventually took on the role of the male lead he wasn’t the first choice for the film. In fact Koyla was initially offered to another Bollywood superstar who despite the films potential decided to turn it down. Who was the first choice for Koyla? The actor who was first approached to star opposite Madhuri Dixit in Koyla was none other than Sunny Deol. Known for his intense roles and strong screen presence Sunny was initially seen as the ideal choice to play the mute hero of the film. However despite the roles fit with his acting persona Sunny Deol rejected the offer. Sources suggest that he wasn’t convinced by the film’s storyline particularly the characters mute nature and he didn’t feel that the role would offer him enough scope for performance. Additionally there were reported issues with his fees which also played a role in his decision to decline the film. Madhuri Dixit’s iconic look Madhuri Dixit who played the female lead of Gauri gave a strong performance despite the film’s shortcomings. One of her most iconic looks in Koyla was in the song “Dekha Tujhe Toh” where she wore a beautiful ghaghara choli. This moment in the song became etched in Bollywood’s visual history as Madhuri’s grace and charm were on full display adding an emotional depth to her character. How was the box office reception? Despite the big-budget production and high hopes surrounding the film Koyla did not perform well at the box office. The film had an estimated budget of Rs 12 crore but it only managed to earn about Rs 28 crore worldwide. This underwhelming performance caused significant financial loss particularly for its director Rakesh Roshan who had put a lot of resources into the film. More about Koyla Koyla had a strong cast with Shah Rukh Khan in the lead Madhuri Dixit playing the female protagonist and Late Amrish Puri portraying the villain Raghunath. Puris menacing portrayal of the antagonist was one of the films few positives giving the movie a much-needed edge. Other notable cast members included Tinnu Anand and Huma Nawab who played supporting roles. Story Highlights Sunny Deol rejected Koyla due to concerns over the storyline playing a mute character and issues with his fees. Despite its big budget of Rs 12 crore Koyla earned only Rs 28 crores worldwide marking it as a major box office flop. Madhuri Dixit’s performance in the iconic ghaghara choli look from the song “Dekha Tujhe Toh” remains one of the most memorable visuals from the film. Directed by Rakesh Roshan the film starred Shah Rukh Khan Madhuri Dixit and Amrish Puri but failed to live up to expectations causing a financial setback. In conclusion Koyla had the potential to be a big success but fell short in terms of both critical and commercial reception.