Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has revealed that he once had opportunities to enter Bollywood, including an offer from superstar Salman Khan. However, the legendary pacer decided against pursuing an acting career because he feared it would distract him from cricket.
Known worldwide as the “Rawalpindi Express” for his extraordinary pace, Shoaib said relations between India and Pakistan were relatively positive at the time, creating opportunities for Pakistani personalities to work in the Indian film industry.
He revealed that he was approached for a role in the Bollywood film Gangster. The offer was not for Emraan Hashmi’s lead character but for another role in the movie.
Shoaib also said that Salman Khan personally offered him a role in a film. Despite the attractive opportunity, he chose to decline because he did not believe he could successfully manage professional cricket and acting at the same time.
According to Shoaib, his cricket career already required several months of intense competition each year, while acting would have involved lengthy shooting schedules. He also anticipated that working in Bollywood could lead to constant speculation about his relationships with actresses.
Several filmmakers reportedly suggested that he could play a villain and that the role would not require too much from him. Nevertheless, Shoaib concluded that balancing two demanding careers was not realistic.
Shoaib’s admiration for Salman
Shoaib has also spoken warmly about Salman Khan, praising the actor’s personality and charitable work.
He jokingly compared their physical appearance but said Salman was a much better person. According to Shoaib, Salman has a generous nature and regularly helps people in need.
The former cricketer also expressed an interesting wish: if a film were ever made about his life, he would like Salman Khan to portray him.
Despite having the chance to pursue a second career in Bollywood, Shoaib ultimately remained focused on cricket—where his extraordinary speed made him one of the most recognizable fast bowlers in the history of the game.
