1. -  Anil Kapoor, Taal, India, 1999. The Bollywood veteran (128 films across 31 years) was the first choice for the role of Vikrant Kapoor.  It went to a real Kapoor. And became the first Hindi (and Tamil) movie to enter the US Top 20 box office charts.

2. - Jimmy Shergill, Yeh Zindagi Ka Safar, India, 2001. The veteran star was first choice for the lead, then Emraan Hashmi was signed - but Jimmy made the actual movie. And put  up with  Ameesha Patel’s waterfall of  tears.