It’s Arshad, and not Shah Rukh, for Jolly LLB : Bollywood News

If things would have moved as per plan two years back, Shah Rukh Khan would have played the role of a lawyer in the satire Jolly LLB. However, when things didn't quite move further after in the right direction, it was none other than Arshad Warsi who turned lucky with the film falling into his lap.

It’s Arshad, and not Shah Rukh, for Jolly LLB

"Shah Rukh Khan had in fact liked the idea of Jolly LLB and had extensive discussions with writer-director Subhash Kapoor in 2009", informs a trade source, "At that time Kapoor was struggling as he only had a lesser known film called Say Salaam India to his name. Phas Gaye Re Obama was yet to happen and it was tough for him to get his next on floors. Though Shah Rukh was seemingly interested earlier on, there was no green signal from him. Once he became busy with Ra. One and Don 2, Subhash knew that he had to look for an alternative."

Once Phas Gaye Re Obama saw good critical acclaim coming its way and also became a reasonable success, Jolly LLB was all set to be revived. With multiple options at his disposal now, Kapoor approached Arshad Warsi who was game to be a part of the film. Though there have been speculations around whether the actor has signed on the dotted line or not, Arshad has now gone on record for the first time and confirmed that he indeed is playing the title role of Jolly LLB.

"It is a beautiful satire about how courts are handled in India", says Arshad, "You typically see judiciary acting in a certain manner in movies; things like witness boxes, a judge who is forever calling 'order order' and those nicely placed out benches where people listen to all the debates and arguments. In Jolly LLB we would be dispelling such myths. A real court is something else and the proceedings are sometimes unintentionally funny."

Playing a small town lawyer in the film, Arshad calls it as 'an underdog film'. However when questioned around what he felt about stepping into Shah Rukh Khan's shoes, Arshad says, "I don't know to whom did the film went earlier and whether anyone signed on the dotted line or not. What I know is that I am playing the title role as a solo hero in a film which is really funny."

Jolly LLB goes on floors once Arshad is through shooting for Zila Ghaziabad. The film is being produced by Fox.