Birthday special: How unreleased films stalled Rahul Roy's acting career

Rahul Roy turned into an overnight superstar with Aashiqui. He was feted by Bollywood and producers jostled to sign him up.

Then, nothing happened.

As Roy turns 49 today (9 February), we see how he became the biggest star of unreleased films. 

Roy’s career went into a tailspin. Junoon and Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayi felt like they would break the freefall. But no. Those two exceptions could not arrest anything. The rest of the releases simply carpet bombed the kingdom that could be Roy’s.

Roy’s mentors Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt haven't shied from blaming the actor’s bad attitude for the dramatic slide. But if that was indeed the case, why were a bunch of top producers shoving each other to sign him after Aashiqui?

Here is the secret: most of his big films never saw the light of day.

The producer's death resulted in his K Balachander-directed Dilon Ka Rishta being shelved. Ayudh, another important project, was shelved after the director's death. Other films to be shelved were Premabhishek, Tune Mera Dil Le Liya with Raveena Tandon, NR Pachisia's Dil Diya Chori with Karisma Kapoor, Harry Baweja’s Vajra with Raveena Tandon and Shilpa Shirodkar, and Jab Dil Mile with Kapoor and Nagma.

Roy was later reunited with Mahesh in Khilona and Kalyug, but those too didn't materialise. Kalyug was later released with Emraan Hashmi and Kunal Khemu.

Eventually, Roy as the naughty boy in Naughty Boy (2006) did get seen on the big screen. But the film was more about Sherlyn Chopra’s skin than Roy’s charming mop.

If only some of those big projects had released, Roy had the potential of being counted among the Khans (Shah Rukh, Salman, Aamir) who still rule today.