Before 'Housefull 5', This Film Had Two Climaxes—Shah Rukh Khan Was Almost Part of It!

Akshay Kumar’s much-awaited film ‘Housefull 5’ is all set to hit theatres on June 6, and fans are buzzing with excitement. One major highlight of this comedy entertainer is that it will feature two different climaxes, making it stand out from typical Bollywood releases. Producer Sajid Nadiadwala recently revealed that both versions will have different killers, adding to the suspense.

But did you know? ‘Housefull 5’ isn’t the first film to feature a double climax. In fact, another film introduced this concept long ago—and Shah Rukh Khan nearly became a part of it!

The First Double-Climax Film Wasn't 'Housefull 5'

During the trailer launch of Housefull 5, Nadiadwala claimed it was Bollywood’s first double-climax film. But that’s not entirely true. The 1998 Malayalam mystery-comedy ‘Harikrishnans’, starring superstars Mohanlal and Mammootty, did it first. Written and directed by Fazil, the film was a massive hit even before release, thanks to the pairing of these two legendary actors.

The film also starred Juhi Chawla, Innocent, Shamili, and Nedumudi Venu. It became the highest-grossing Malayalam film of that year. And yes—it had two different endings, crafted specifically for the fans of both Mammootty and Mohanlal.

What Were the Two Endings in Harikrishnans?

• First climax: Juhi Chawla’s character ends up with Mohanlal.

• Second climax: In this version, she chooses Mammootty instead.

The idea was to keep both fan bases happy by releasing different endings in different regions.

The Third Climax That Never Happened – Shah Rukh Khan’s Missed Cameo

Interestingly, the filmmakers had also planned a third climax, which would feature Shah Rukh Khan in a cameo role. He was offered the part of Meera’s (Juhi Chawla) lover, but due to technical reasons, the idea had to be dropped. If that had worked out, the film would have had three alternate endings—a rare feat in Indian cinema.

‘Harikrishnans’ Was a Commercial Success

The film was made on a modest budget of ₹2.5 crore, and it managed to recover its entire cost within just two weeks. In the first week alone, the movie earned ₹5.6 lakh, making it a commercial success.

Can Housefull 5 Pull Off the Double-Climax Concept?

Now, all eyes are on ‘Housefull 5’ to see if this double-climax strategy will work in Bollywood's commercial landscape. If successful, it could set a new trend for multi-ending films in Indian cinema.