Bollywood fans were once excited about the possibility of seeing Shahrukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra together in another film after their hit Don series. However, a project starring the two never took off due to unexpected legal and visa issues. Vishal Punjabi, the man behind the popular wedding videography company The Wedding Filmer, revealed this unknown story in a recent interview. Before founding his successful business, Vishal worked closely with Shahrukh Khan for a decade at Red Chillies Entertainment.
Vishal’s Journey to Bollywood
Vishal Punjabi, originally from Ghana, always admired Shahrukh Khan and dreamed of working with him. After moving to London for his studies, Vishal struggled to adjust and soon started looking for job opportunities in other places. One day, he decided to message Shahrukh Khan directly, introducing himself and expressing his interest in working as a web developer. Surprisingly, Shahrukh himself responded and invited Vishal to Mumbai to work under his banner. This marked the beginning of a 10-year-long collaboration between Vishal and Shahrukh Khan.
The Movie That Never Happened
In 2007, Vishal and his friends, Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti, planned to make a Bollywood movie. Shahrukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra had agreed to star in this film, raising anticipation among fans. However, Vishal faced a significant hurdle. He had been living in India on a tourist visa and did not have the required OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India) to legally stay and work in the country. This oversight created a serious legal issue.
Vishal’s Deportation and Shahrukh’s Efforts
As soon as the authorities discovered that Vishal was working on a tourist visa, he was deported from India. Since he was working under the banner of Red Chillies Entertainment, the matter became more complicated, leading to Shahrukh Khan being investigated by the authorities. Despite Shahrukh’s efforts to resolve the situation and bring Vishal back, there was little he could do.
The timing couldn’t have been worse, and the project had to be shelved. The 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, commonly known as 26/11, eventually led to a shift in government policies. After the change, Shahrukh Khan’s recommendation helped Vishal return to India, but by then, the momentum for the film had been lost.
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Vishal’s Continued Success
Despite this setback, Vishal Punjabi went on to achieve great success. His wedding videography company, The Wedding Filmer, is now one of the most sought-after businesses in the industry, capturing beautiful moments from celebrity weddings. His journey is an inspiring tale of how determination and persistence can lead to unexpected success, even when faced with legal challenges.
