# Dilip Kumar was rejected for Mughal-E-Azam. DK Sapru was first Salim 2026-08-08T09:07:12+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Director K Asif rejected Dilip Kumar for the role of Prince Salim in Mughal-E-Azam in 1946, believing he lacked royal gravitas. Instead, Asif cast DK Sapru as Salim, with Nargis as Anarkali and Chandra Mohan as Emperor Akbar. Nearly 25 per cent of the film was shot before Partition in 1947 disrupted production, and Chandra Mohan’s death in 1949 shelved the original version. India Today reports Asif revived the project in 1952 with a new cast: Dilip Kumar as Salim, Madhubala as Anarkali, and Prithviraj Kapoor as Akbar. Sapru went on to appear in over 350 films, including Pakeezah and Deewaar. The 1960 classic remains celebrated for its grandeur and Naushad’s soundtrack. ## Coverage - indiatoday.in Tags: Bollywood history, Dilip Kumar, DK Sapru, K Asif, Mughal-E-Azam, Partition cinema Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/dilip-kumar-was-rejected-for-mughal-e-azam-dk-sapru-was-first-salim/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/dilip-kumar-was-rejected-for-mughal-e-azam-dk-sapru-was-first-salim/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.