Overview
- Kapoor says Salman Khan proposed Katrina Kaif for the female lead, but he opted for a new pairing and ultimately cast Ayesha Takia after considering others including Genelia D’Souza.
- He arranged special screenings of Puri Jagannadh’s Pokiri for Salman and feared losing the Hindi remake rights if another version surged first, citing the Ghajini example.
- After Salman approved the project, Prabhu Deva was signed to direct the Hindi remake of the 2006 Telugu hit that starred Mahesh Babu.
- Wanted released on September 18, 2009, earning over ₹60 crore net in India and just under ₹100 crore gross worldwide.
- The film is widely credited with launching Salman Khan’s “second innings,” paving the way for subsequent hits such as Dabangg, Ready, and Bodyguard.