Director Shoojit Sircar revealed late actor Irrfan Khan convinced him to do 'Sardar Udham' after Sircar had thought of shelving the film without Irrfan. "Irrfan was supposed to play the lead...but it was unfortunate," he said. Sircar added, "I said I wouldn't do it...Irrfan said, 'Dada, please don't...You must do this film, this is your baby'...That’s how Vicky Kaushal happened."