Shah Rukh Khan is one of the most prominent and dignified names in the entertainment industry. With a career spanning around 36 years, the 58-year-old has mesmerised his fans and the audience with each role he has ever portrayed on celluloid. His top-notch performances have made him one of the most loved stars all around the world.
Recently, Shah Rukh Khan was awarded the prestigious Pardo Alla Carriera Award at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland. After the award ceremony, the 58-year-old sat for an interview and talked about his career at length. During the interview, he was asked about his experience working on Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film, Devdas.
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For the unversed, Devdas, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit, will be screened at the film festival. While conversing, SRK shared that he had some serious apprehensions about playing 'Devdas'. He further revealed that he had initially said no to the role. Recalling how SLB denied the film with anyone else, King Khan said:
"Many years later when Mr Sanjay Leela Bhansali came down and said he wanted me to be Devdas, I said, ‘No, he is a loser, an alcoholic, I am too cool to be Devdas’. Before leaving he just said one thing that still sticks with me, he said, ‘I would not make this film if not with you because your eyes are like Devdas.’ For a year he didn’t cast anyone, then we met again and I said yes to the film."
In the same interaction, Shah Rukh shared that the 1955 Devdas, starring Dilip Kumar, Suchitra Sen, and Vyjayanthimala, was his mother's favourite movie. She used to love watching it. Meanwhile, SRK's father also used to talk about the film. Sharing that it was a very special film, Shah Rukh Khan discussed that Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas is one of the greatest classics remade in the country.
Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan also recalled his experience working with Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit Nene, and Jackie Shroff in the film and called himself privileged to have worked with them. He further shared that he loathed his character in the film and never wanted anyone to like 'Devdas'. He said:
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"I don’t like to play characters that demean women, I didn’t want him to be liked in the film for the reason that he disses a woman and doesn’t commit to her, I wanted him to come across as a person who is spineless and not somebody you should look up to. Bhansali made the film beautifully, but I don’t think anybody wants to be Devdas, it is not a character you take back home. I just didn’t want a character who has commitment issues with women to become popular in a different sense, I think I achieved that."
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Meanwhile, Shah Rukh also highlighted the process of filming and shared that he would just drink alcohol for the shoot, otherwise, he wouldn't drink. He hilariously shared that he would just drink and sit with Jackie Shroff while Aishwarya and Madhuri would film the dance sequences. Talking about how people would think he had worked hard, SRK added:
"During Devdas, I used to drink for the role for many nights, otherwise, I don’t. I would have alcohol, and then one night Madhuri would be dancing, one night Aishwarya would be dancing, and I would just be drinking there with Mr. Jackie Shroff, at the end of the day people would tell me I put in a lot of hard work and did a great job."
Previously, Kal Ho Naa Ho director, Nikkhil Advani shared SRK's habit of humorously criticising the film he worked on while simultaneously having another project in the pipeline. While conversing with Galatta Plus, Nikkhil recalled that King Khan would call KHNH 'rubbish' and heap praises on Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film, Devdas, even describing it as 'fantastic'.
In 2023, King Khan was seen in not one but three major hit films, Pathaan, Jawan and Dunki. After the release of Rajkumar Hirani's 2023 adventure drama, SRK took some time off. However, as per recent reports, he is all set to start shooting his upcoming film, King, with his darling daughter, Suhana Khan.
What are your thoughts on the revelations made by Shah Rukh Khan about his film, Devdas?
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