Amitabh Bachchan was the first choice to play Jackie Shroff's role in Parinda. When he refused, director Vidhu Vinod Chopra considered Naseeruddin Shah, Vinod Khanna, Suresh Oberoi, Ajit Vachchani and Nana Patekar. Anil Kapoor felt Nana Patekar would not look like his brother, and suggested Jackie Shroff instead. Jackie agreed after listening to a song that was to be picturized on Anil.