India, Oct. 10 -- During a candid chat with journalist Vickey Lalwani, composer and musician Ismail Darbar, opened up about how the cult classic Devdas (2002), helmed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, wasn't necessarily pictured with Shah Rukh Khan all along. Ismail, who composed the songs for the film, revealed that it was apparently Salman Khan who was the first pick for the film.

However, Sanjay apparently opted to drop Salman in favour of SRK for the final casting.

He said, "When I needed work, he (Sanjay Leela Bhansali) gave me Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, and when he needed me, I gave up all the work I had for him. He was my godfather in the industry, after all...My heart tells me that his equation with Salman soured because he hired Shah Rukh...