Many successful cricket films have been made in the Bollywood industry, starting with Aamir Khan's 'Lagaan'. Before this, other films based on cricket themes were also created, but they did not achieve success comparable to 'Lagaan'. One such film was made by actor Dev Anand, who released the movie 'Awaal Number' in 1990, in which Aamir Khan participated. This film, which he produced and directed, turned out to be a commercial failure.
Besides Aamir Khan, Aditya Pancholi starred in the film 'Awaal Number'. Before Aditya's involvement, the renowned actor offered a role to Pakistani cricketer and former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Dev Anand also promised the cricketer that after the film's release, he would reach the level of the legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan. These details were mentioned by him in his autobiography 'Romancing with Life'.
According to Dev Anand, casting Aamir Khan for 'Awaal Number' was straightforward. After the success of 'Kayaamat Se Kaayaamat Tak', he felt that Aamir possessed great talent and was part of a new generation of young stars. Therefore, he invited the actor to play a young cricketer named Sunny.
For the role of Ronnie, he approached Pakistani cricketer Imran Khan, who had announced his retirement from international cricket by that time. Dev Anand explained that he was looking for a famous cricketer whose star status was gradually fading, and he thought that Imran Khan would be perfect for this role. He noted that Imran and Aamir Khan together in the film would be a big surprise.
The legendary actor continued to say that after retiring from cricket, Imran began spending a lot of time in London and also took up modeling. Dev Anand traveled to London to meet him and offered him a role in his film. He asked Imran to play a cricketer whose star shine was diminishing. Dev Anand assured him that this film could bring him a completely different kind of fame.
However, Imran remained silent because he himself did not believe in his ability to be a good actor and felt some hesitation in front of the camera. To convince Imran about acting, Dev Anand tried to persuade him further. He asserted that if Imran acted in this film, his recognition in India would significantly increase. Dev Anand emphasized that Imran was already a very big star globally, and after this film, his popularity in India could grow immensely. He also hinted that Imran could achieve the level of popularity of Amitabh Bachchan in cinema. The actor added that it would be a pleasure for him to premiere the film in Pakistan, making Imran Khan a star.
But Imran Khan stated his position: at that time, the President of Pakistan, Zia-ul-Haq, wished for him to join his government as the Minister of Culture. Dev Anand tried to find a way out of this situation, stating that Imran could combine both activities—politics and work in cinema. Nevertheless, Imran was not ready for acting. Dev Anand asked him to spend time on the script and think about it. Saying goodbye, Dev Anand expressed his wish for Imran to participate in his film. However, the next day, he received only a one-word refusal from Imran. Imran Khan clearly rejected Dev Anand's offer to work in his film.