Abhishek was to play Pak terrorist in his debut film

Filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra reflected on the heartbreak of Samjhauta Express being canceled just months before its start due to its controversial subject. The film, which would have featured Abhishek Bachchan as a Pakistani terrorist, was deemed too risky. Mehra later burned all related materials in frustration. Abhishek’s father, Amitabh, also dismissed the script as nonsense.