{{Short description|none}} thumb|right|200px|Shekhar in 2008 During his career, Indian director Shekhar Kapur has worked on a number of projects that never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under his direction. Some of these projects were canceled, some were turned over to other production teams, and others never made it past the speculative stage.

==Unrealized projects== ===''Time Machine''=== {{Main| Time Machine (unfinished film)}} In 1992, he was set to direct the sci-fi film titled ''Time Machine'', which was to star Aamir Khan, Raveena Tandon, Naseeruddin Shah and Rekha, but he abandoned the project halfway through due to financial problems.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3b6GQXSAxg | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830121026/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3b6GQXSAxg| archive-date=30 August 2012 | url-status=dead|title=Time Machine Rushes – Aamir Khan, Raveena Tandon, Rekha, Naseeruddin Shah, Shekhar Kapur |publisher=YouTube |access-date=3 March 2014}}</ref> The film was left incomplete, and there were talks many years later that Kapur would revive the project with a new cast, which never happened.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/Bollwood/MirchMasala/Article1-273117.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216061426/http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/Bollwood/MirchMasala/Article1-273117.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 February 2013 |title=Shekhar Kapur to revive Time Machine |work=Hindustan Times |date=1 February 2008 |access-date=3 March 2014 |author=Vajir Singh }}</ref>

===Elizabeth's third chapter and foundation series=== ''Elizabeth: The Dark Age'', a third episode in the Queen Elizabeth series, was planned.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ramachandran|first1=Naman|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/asia/shekhar-kapur-talks-little-dragon-elizabeth-the-dark-age-1202632727/ |title=IFFAM: Shekhar Kapur Talks 'Little Dragon,' 'Elizabeth: The Dark Age' |publisher=Variety |date=7 December 2017 |access-date=11 July 2017}}</ref> According to screenwriter John Rogers, the success of ''Elizabeth'' led to Kapur being tapped to work on an adaptation of Isaac Asimov's ''Foundation Trilogy'', but later both the projects got shelved.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kfmonkey.blogspot.com/2007/07/futurism-vs-futuruisnt.html |title=Kung Fu Monkey: Futurism vs. Futuruisn't |publisher=Kfmonkey.blogspot.com |date=17 July 2007 |access-date=8 August 2011}}</ref>

===Buddha=== Kapur tentatively planned to direct a movie of the life of the Buddha, titled ''Buddha'', but the plans were dropped for unstated reasons.

===Larklight film adaptation=== He planned to adapt ''Larklight'', a book by Philip Reeve.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhushan |first=Borys Kit, Nyay |date=2008-03-31 |title=Shekhar Kapur signs on for 'Larklight' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/shekhar-kapur-signs-larklight-108280/ |access-date=2026-04-21 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> Kapur traveled to Armenia to explore the possibility of making a film about the Armenian genocide.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} In an interview with Associated Content, Kapur announced he is no longer attached to ''Larklight''.{{Citation needed|date=April 2016}}

===''Hippie Hippie Shake''=== {{Main| Hippie Hippie Shake}} In February 2002, it was reported that Kapur was attached to direct ''Hippie Hippie Shake'', a script by Tom Butterworth based on Richard Neville's autobiographical account of his misadventures in London at the end of the swinging '60s.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Dawtry|first=Adam|url=https://variety.com/2002/film/news/working-with-tried-and-true-1117860187/|title=Working with tried and true|magazine=Variety|date=February 5, 2002|access-date=February 9, 2025}}</ref>

===''Paani''=== In December 2002, Shekhar Kapur announced that his next project would be titled ''Paani'', describing it as a "futuristic ''Blade Runner''-type script based on India's haves and have nots". He revealed that the story would be based 60 years from the present in a hypothetical time when water has run out, and he noted that he thought of the theme when he was making ''Bandit Queen'' (1994). A team including scriptwriter Andrew Niccol, music composer A. R. Rahman, editor Jill Bilcock and production designer John Myhre was announced for the project.<ref>{{Cite web |title=rediff.com: Movies: Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur on Paani |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/dec/18kapur.htm |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=www.rediff.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=rediff.com: Movies: Rahman will score for Shekhar Kapur's Paani |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/dec/13rah.htm |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=www.rediff.com}}</ref> In 2003, Vivek Oberoi was approached to play the lead role in the film, but the project did not materialise.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.iol.co.za/entertainment/whats-on/bollywood-gossip-914999 | title=Bollywood gossip }}</ref>

In November 2007, Kapur announced his disappointment that the film had failed to find producers and revealed that he was keen to produce it.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/shekhar-kapur-sexy-at-62/story-OMG1qCzfjabtTNN1y6vX0N.html | title=Shekhar Kapur: Sexy at 62 | date=30 November 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/papa-kehte-hain/articleshow/3412404.cms | title=Papa kehte hain - Times of India | website=The Times of India | last1=Jha | first1=Subhash K. }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Matt Ford |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/10/22/eco.films/ |title=Eco-horror films shocking us into action |publisher=CNN |date=2008-10-26 |access-date=2022-09-07}}</ref> Reports throughout the late 2000s suggested that producers including Barrie Osborne and Danny Boyle were interested in the project but no official announcement from a studio was made.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://canadians.org/analysis/news-kapur-finishes-paani-script/ | title=NEWS: Kapur finishes Paani script | date=9 March 2011 }}</ref> Kapur later revealed concept posters of the film and held a press conference at the Marche du Film of the Cannes Film Festival in 2010 in attempt to find financiers.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/74-editions/retrospective/2010/actualites/articles/shekhar-kapur-exclusive-interview | title=Shekhar Kapur, exclusive interview - Festival de Cannes | date=18 May 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title=First look of Shekhar Kapur's 'Paani' - Masala | url=https://www.masala.com/bollywood-news/first-look-of-shekhar-kapurs-paani-21586#! | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819112145/https://www.masala.com/bollywood-news/first-look-of-shekhar-kapurs-paani-21586 | access-date=2025-01-03 | archive-date=2022-08-19}}</ref> Later in the year, Kapur began negotiations with Yash Raj Films to be the producers and for Hrithik Roshan to be the lead actor of the film.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/The-Saturday-Interview-Shekhar-the-seeker/article15579093.ece | title=The Saturday Interview - Shekhar, the seeker | newspaper=The Hindu | date=3 December 2010 | last1=Kumar | first1=Anuj }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/paani-written-15-years-ago-shekhar-kapur-123152-2012-12-03 | title=Paani written 15 years ago: Shekhar Kapur | date=3 December 2012 }}</ref>

In November 2012, Kapur's collaboration with Yash Raj Films and producer Aditya Chopra was confirmed.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/shekhar-kapur-taps-yash-raj-395833/ | title=Shekhar Kapur Taps Yash Raj Films for 'Paani' | website=The Hollywood Reporter | date=30 November 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/paani-is-a-love-story-shekhar-kapur-525459.html | title='Paani' is a love story: Shekhar Kapur | date=7 December 2012 }}</ref> Discussions with Roshan continued in late 2012 but Kapur later revealed that the script and the actor had evolved with time, and there was no longer a match between the actor and the script.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/its-lifelong-dream-to-work-with-shekhar-hrithik-roshan-550444.html | title=It's lifelong dream to work with Shekhar: Hrithik Roshan | date=8 December 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tellychakkar.com/movie/movie-news/i-have-no-idea-why-i-am-not-doing-paani-hrithik-roshan | title=I have no idea why I am not doing Paani - Hrithik Roshan }}</ref> Ranbir Kapoor was considered for the film, then Sushant Singh Rajput was signed in September 2013.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2013/film/asia/sushant-singh-rajput-lands-lead-role-in-shekhar-kapurs-paani-1200613361/ | title=Sushant Singh Rajput Lands Lead Role in Shekhar Kapur's 'Paani' | date=16 September 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/has-ranbir-kapoor-replaced-hrithik-roshan-in-shekhar-kapurs-paani-606114 | title=Has Ranbir Kapoor replaced Hrithik Roshan in Shekhar Kapur's Paani? }}</ref> Kapur denied media reports that actresses Monica Bellucci and Anushka Sharma were approached to play the leading female role.<ref>{{Cite web | title= | url=https://www.pressreader.com/india/ht-cafe/20121207/281505043526420 | access-date=2025-01-03 | via=PressReader}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bollywoodlife.com/box-office/anushka-sharma-not-to-star-in-shekhar-kapurs-paani-201691/ | title=Anushka Sharma not to star in Shekhar Kapur's Paani | date=19 March 2013 }}</ref> Reports regarding the film's casting continued throughout 2014 and 2015 with actresses Kristen Stewart, Emma Watson, Jennifer Lawrence, Kangana Ranaut, Ayesha Kapur and Rekha speculated as being a part of the cast.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bollywoodlife.com/news-gossip/ayesha-kapur-to-star-opposite-sushant-singh-rajput-in-shekhar-kapurs-paani-397878/ | title=Ayesha Kapur to star opposite Sushant Singh Rajput in Shekhar Kapur's Paani! | date=18 September 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tellychakkar.com/movie/movie-news/rekha-shekhar-kapurs-paani-140923 | title=Rekha in Shekhar Kapur's Paani? }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/kangana-ranaut-offered-85-year-olds-role-in-shekhar-kapurs-film/article7838320.ece?homepage=true | title=Kangana Ranaut offered 85 year old's role in Shekhar Kapur's film | newspaper=The Hindu | date=3 November 2015 }}</ref> John Travolta also revealed that Kapur had approached him for a role in the film.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/hollywood/hollywood-actor-john-travolta-in-shekhar-kapur-s-paani/story-2gwSueriEJD31r73zEZRVN.html | title=Hollywood actor John Travolta in Shekhar Kapur's Paani | date=27 April 2014 }}</ref> The delay in the film's production had led to Rajput opting out of twelve other projects.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/news/341190/i-gave-six-films-paani-sushant-singh-rajput | title=I gave up six films for Paani: Sushant Singh Rajput | date=15 September 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dnaindia.com/bollywood/report-sushant-singh-rajput-upset-with-shekhar-kapur-for-reviving-paani-with-ranveer-singh-2550418 | title=Sushant Singh Rajput upset with Shekhar Kapur for reviving 'Paani' with Ranveer Singh? }}</ref> The actor had become involved in the making of the film, with Kapur noting that Rajput was "fully immersed in the character" and that the project had become an "addiction" for him.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/sushant-singh-rajput-cried-a-lot-when-he-found-out-paani-has-been-shelved-we-both-did-shekhar-kapur/story-zoTUzci0x97aDyDUPDnVkI.html | title='Sushant Singh Rajput cried a lot when he found out Paani has been shelved, we both did': Shekhar Kapur | date=16 June 2020 }}</ref>

By June 2015, Kapur and producer Chopra decided not to collaborate on the film owing to creative disagreements, especially on the casting of Rajput in the lead role. Rajput had been sidelined by Chopra on other films by Yash Raj Films, including ''Befikre'' (2016).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/150618/entertainment-bollywood/article/shekhar-kapurs-futuristic-film-paani-shelved | title=Shekhar Kapur's futuristic film 'Paani' shelved | date=18 June 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/bollywood/hum-nahi-banayenge-sushant-ke-saath-shekhar-kapur-reveals-why-paani-producers-shelved-the-film | title='Hum nahi banayenge Sushant ke saath': Shekhar Kapur reveals why 'Paani' producers shelved the film }}</ref> Kapur suggested that he would seek international financiers because he felt producers in the Indian film industry were failing to relate to the film's core theme.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/will-take-paani-overseas-if-dont-get-indian-makers-shekhar-kapur/ | title=Will take 'Paani' overseas if don't get Indian makers: Shekhar Kapur | date=23 November 2015 }}</ref> The project was shelved by April 2017, but the success of ''Baahubali: The Beginning'' (2017) prompted Kapur to resume his plans of making the film in late 2017, potentially with Ranveer Singh in the lead role.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/bollywood/190417/im-devastated-that-paani-didnt-get-made-shekhar-kapoor-comforts-sushant.html | title=I'm devastated that Paani didn't get made: Shekhar Kapur comforts Sushant | date=19 April 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.peepingmoon.com/entertainment-news/news/13586/I-am-definitely-making-Paani-now-says-Shekhar-Kapur.html | title=I am definitely making Paani now, says Shekhar Kapur | date=11 January 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/bollywood/not-sushant-singh-rajput-ranveer-singh-might-be-lead-in-shekhar-kapurs-paani-4111467.html | title=Not Sushant Singh Rajput, Ranveer Singh might be lead in Shekhar Kapur's Paani | date=5 October 2017 }}</ref> As of 2025, the film remains unmade, with Kapur's noting that he would dedicate the film to Rajput, who died in 2020, if it is made.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/shekhar-kapur-on-why-projects-like-sushant-singh-rajput-starrer-paani-fall-apart-7720844/ | title=Shekhar Kapur on why projects like Sushant Singh Rajput-starrer Paani fall apart: 'The ambitions are different' | date=13 January 2022 }}</ref>

===''Solace''=== {{Main |Solace (2015 film)}} In 2005, Kapur signed to direct the mystery thriller ''Solace'', with Bruce Willis attached to star.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/03/17/director-finds-solace|title=Director Finds Solace|website=IGN|date=March 17, 2005|access-date=June 26, 2024}}</ref>

===''The Nine o'Clock War''=== One of his projects was a film tentatively titled ''The Nine o'Clock War''.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/feb/22look3.htm|title= Shekhar Kapur, on his buddy Heath Ledger|website=REDIFF|date= February 26, 2008}}</ref> He had planned this project with his longtime friend and previous collaborator Heath Ledger in the role of a popular television news anchor.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/this-throwback-picture-of-shekhar-kapur-and-heath-ledger-takes-us-on-a-nostalgic-ride-see-pic-4649724/|title= This throwback picture of Shekhar Kapur and Heath Ledger takes us on a nostalgic ride|website=Indian Express|author=Express Web Desk|date= 10 May 2017|access-date=April 19, 2022}}</ref> It never happened as a result of the actor's unexpected death in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/english/hollywood/news/did-you-know-that-heath-ledger-had-asked-director-shekhar-kapur-to-wake-him-up-the-morning-he-was-found-dead/articleshow/76404621.cms|title=Did you know that Heath Ledger has asked Shekhar Kapur to wake him up the morning he was found dead|website=Times of India|date=June 16, 2020|access-date=May 11, 2022|author=TOI}}</ref>

===TV series about Cleopatra=== In 2015, He was set to direct a series titled ''Cleopatra'' about Cleopatra of ancient Egypt, developed by David Ellender's Slingshot Global Media.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.themarysue.com/cleopatra-hmmm/|website= The Mary Sue|title= Shekhar Kapur to Direct a Cleopatra Series|date=August 19, 2015|author=Carolyn Cox}}</ref> It was reported that Jennifer Lawrence would star as Cleopatra.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.desiblitz.com/content/jennifer-lawrence-to-star-in-shekhar-kapur-drama|title=Jennifer Lawrence to star in Shekhar Kapur drama|website=Desi Blitz|author=Katie Millington|date=24 September 2015 }}</ref> The project later got shelved.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Petski|first1=Denise|title='Cleopatra' Series In The Works At Slingshot Global Media|url=https://deadline.com/2015/08/cleopatra-series-shakhur-kapur-slingshot-global-media-1201500627/|access-date=19 August 2015|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=18 August 2015}}</ref>

===Bruce Lee biopic=== It was announced that he will direct ''Little Dragon'', an authorized biopic of martial arts legend Bruce Lee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/asia/shekhar-kapur-directing-authorized-bruce-lee-biopic-little-dragon-1202413799/|title=Shekhar Kapur to Direct Authorized Bruce Lee Biopic 'Little Dragon'|first=Patrick|last=Frater|date=8 May 2017}}</ref> As of 2025, there is no information regarding the project.

===Sheikh Zayed biopic=== It was announced in 2018 that Kapur was developing a biopic of Muslim leader and former President of United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed, and would direct from a screenplay written by Cliff Dorfman.<ref>{{cite web|author=Busch, Anita|url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/stxfilms-shekhar-kapur-directing-biopic-former-president-of-uae-sheikh-zayed-1202400621/|title=STXfilms Taps Shekhar Kapur To Direct Biopic On Muslim Leader & Former President Of UAE Sheikh Zayed|website=Deadline|date=May 31, 2018|access-date=May 2, 2025}}</ref>

===Ibis Trilogy TV series=== It was announced in March 2019 that Kapur will be directing a TV series for Endemol Shine based on historical novels by Amitav Ghosh, known as the "Ibis Trilogy", which details the opium wars among Britain, India and China in the mid-19th century.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shekhar Kapur to direct drama on Amitav Ghosh's 'The Ibis Trilogy' |website=The Week |date=26 Mar 2019 |language=en |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/entertainment/2019/03/26/shekhar-kapur-direct-drama-amitav-ghosh-the-ibis-trilogy.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Shekhar Kapur to direct drama on Amitav Ghosh's 'The Ibis Trilogy' |date=25 Mar 2019 |newspaper=Business Standard India |author=Press Trust of India |language=en |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/shekhar-kapur-to-direct-drama-on-amitav-ghosh-s-the-ibis-trilogy-119032500957_1.html}}</ref>

===Shiva Trilogy TV series=== Kapur is all set to adapt Amish Tripathi's critically acclaimed book series Shiva Trilogy into a television web show.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/shekhar-kapur-to-direct-series-adaptation-of-amish-tripathis-shiva-trilogy/article65206981.ece|title=Shekhar Kapur to direct series adaptation of Amish Tripathi's book Shiva Trilogy|website=The Hindu|author=PTI|date=9 March 2022}}</ref> He will be co-directing the show with Suparn Verma.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://amp.dev/documentation/guides-and-tutorials/start/create/basic_markup|title=Shekhar Kapur and Suparn Verma to direct the first instalment of Amish Tripathi's Shiva Trilogy|website=BollywoodMDB|author=BollywoodMDB Team|date=9 March 2022}}</ref>

===''Masoom... The New Generation''=== As of 2023, a sequel to Kapur's first film ''Masoom'' was being planned, under the title ''Masoom... The New Generation'', with him returning to direct.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Ramachandran, Naman|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/asia/shekhar-kapur-masoom-sequel-theme-1235661063/|title=Shekhar Kapur Reveals Theme of 'Masoom' Sequel (EXCLUSIVE)|magazine=Variety|date=July 4, 2023|access-date=May 2, 2025}}</ref>

===''Ebony McQueen''=== In 2024, it was reported that Kapur was hired by Dave Stewart to direct the 1960s/70s coming-of-age story ''Ebony McQueen'', inspired by Stewart's teen years in the North East of England.<ref>{{cite web|author=Bamigboye, Baz|url=https://deadline.com/2024/08/dave-stewart-movie-shekhar-kapur-ar-rahman-ebony-mcqueen-1236038506/|title=Breaking Baz: Dave Stewart Sets Shekhar Kapur To Direct 'Ebony McQueen'; Eurythmics Rocker Will Collaborate With A.R. Rahman On Coming-Of-Age Pic's Songs & Score|website=Deadline|date=August 13, 2024|access-date=May 2, 2025}}</ref>

==Abandoned projects== ===''Joshilaay''=== {{Main|Joshilaay}} He was originally the director of the 1989 film ''Joshilaay'', which starred Sunny Deol, Anil Kapoor, Sridevi and Meenakshi Sheshadri, then he left the production halfway, and its producer Sibti Hassan Rizvi completed the film.

===''Barsaat''=== {{Main| Barsaat (1995 film)}} In 1992, he had shot some scenes for ''Barsaat'', which originally was titled ''Champion'', and it was going to be the debut film of Bobby Deol, but he left the production and was replaced by Rajkumar Santoshi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/06/14/stories/2002061400130100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030210195505/http://thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/06/14/stories/2002061400130100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 February 2003|website=The Hindu|title=In fearless pursuit...}}</ref>

===''Dushmani''=== {{Main| Dushmani: A Violent Love Story}} In 1995, he partly directed ''Dushmani'', starring Sunny Deol, Jackie Shroff and Manisha Koirala, then its producer Bunty Soorma completed the film.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.filmnirvana.com/?q=node/16042 |title=Shekhar Kapur moves out after Bandit Queen |publisher=filmnirvana.com |access-date=8 August 2011}}</ref>

===''Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja''=== {{Main| Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja}} ''Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja'' was announced in 1987 with Shekhar as the director, but he left the film stating "it (film) lacked soul." He was replaced by Satish Kaushik.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.koimoi.com/bollywood-news/satish-kaushik-opens-up-on-directorial-debut-roop-ki-rani-choron-ka-raja-its-failure/|title=Satish Kaushik opens up on directorial debut Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja and its failure|website=Koimoi|date=April 16, 2020|access-date=May 5, 2022|author=IANS}}</ref>

===''Prem''=== {{Main|Prem (film)}} Shekhar was attached as a director. He convinced Tabu to stay in India and abandon her plans for her higher studies for this film but he never got on board with the project as a director. Later, Satish Kaushik directed the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/photos/shekhar-kapur/shekhar-kapur-sushant-singh-rajputs-paani-aamir-khans-time-machine-list-filmmakers-movies-shelved-542760/shekhar-kapurs-shelved-projects-over-years|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417163605/https://www.pinkvilla.com/photos/shekhar-kapur/shekhar-kapur-sushant-singh-rajputs-paani-aamir-khans-time-machine-list-filmmakers-movies-shelved-542760/shekhar-kapurs-shelved-projects-over-years|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 17, 2022|title=Shekhar Kapur was set to direct Tabu and Sanjay Kapoor starrer Prem|access-date=April 21, 2022|author=Pink Villa}}</ref>

===''Raja''=== {{Main| Raja (1995 film)}} This movie was supposed to be Shekhar's debut directorial, but he did not direct this movie for unknown reasons and it was directed by Indra Kumar. Sanjay Kapoor shared in an interview "Shekhar Kapur was initially supposed to direct ''Prem''...the problem with Shekhar is that he is a very lazy guy, which is why he has made such few films over 30 years. He never wanted to start it, and that led to my frustration."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.cinestaan.com/articles//dec/0/517/shekhar-kapur-s-unfulfilled-dreams|title=Shekhar Kapur's unfulfilled dreams|website=Cinestaan}}</ref>

===''Steinbeck's Point of View''=== In 1999, Kapur struck a deal with Warner Bros. and Bel Air Entertainment to make ''Steinbeck's Point of View'' his next directorial assignment,<ref name="Variety">{{cite magazine|last=Fleming|first=Michael|url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/view-in-focus-for-kapur-1117490313/|title='View' in focus for Kapur|magazine=Variety|date=January 17, 1999|access-date=April 13, 2025}}</ref> but he left the project in favour of making ''The Four Feathers'' instead.

===''The Phantom of the Opera''=== In 1999, Kapur was developing to direct the long-awaited screen adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit musical ''The Phantom of the Opera'', planning to cast Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones in the main roles. However he left the project.<ref name="Variety"/>

===''Superman Lives''=== Kapur was offered to direct ''Superman Lives'' after Tim Burton had dropped out, but he turned it down.<ref>{{cite news|author=Mike White|title=''Superman'': Grounded|work=Cahiers du cinéma|url=http://www.impossiblefunky.com/archives/issue_15/15_superman.asp?IshNum=15|url-status=dead|access-date=February 3, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216230219/http://www.impossiblefunky.com/archives/issue_15/15_superman.asp?IshNum=15|archive-date=February 16, 2008}}</ref>

==See also== * Works of Shekhar Kapur

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Shekhar Kapur}}

Kapur, Shekhar