Shah Rukh never wanted to do films? When actor recalled his journey from TV to Bollywood

New Delhi: Shah Rukh Khan, the Bollywood superstar, was not made overnight. It took him immense hard work, dedication, and whatnot to achieve an unprecedented amount of fame and popularity that even the biggest celebrities can only dream of. While the 59-year-old actor is now ruling the world of Hindi cinema by delivering back-to-back hits, there was a time back in the day when he never wanted to do movies. Yes, you read that right!

In an old interview, posted on the Lehren Retro YouTube channel, SRK explained, "I did a play with Barry John in which I was a principal dancer. Then came the Fauji serial that got popular. People liked me in that. Following the same, I started receiving film offers. However, I was not at all interested in doing movies. So, I never felt like doing those." At that time, he was pursuing an MA in Mass Communication.

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"After that, I did Dil Dariya. Then came Umeed and Circus. After that, people started calling me up in Delhi, highlighting that they were making films. Hema ji and Sippy sahab called. So, I came to Bombay and signed five films," King Khan said. He added that he was actually in the experimental phase, where he wanted to work in films for one year.

Shah Rukh further said, "There is instant popularity on television. When Fauji concluded, I used to call myself a six-and-a-half-hour TV star. My case was that my technique was developed as I had done some work on the stage. And I had a set idea that I would do movies on my terms only." He added that he was looking for neat and clean opportunities that made him happy.

It wasn't the case that Shah Rukh was desperate to get launched on the silver screen. Instead, he focused on roles at the beginning of his theatrical journey. "I believed the role should be good. In a way, I opted for variety in my initial films."

Deewana, directed by Raj Kanwar, marked King Khan's cinematic debut. But the romantic drama wasn't the first film he signed. "It had fantastic music. The director had worked hard. The actors had done well. So, it became an instant hit," mentioned Shah Rukh.

When asked about the competition he faced with Salman Khan and Aamir Khan in Bollywood, who were already established in the industry at the time of his foray, Shah Rukh replied by saying, "Salman is, I think, the biggest star ever, in terms of period. Aamir, I feel, is the finest actor in the country." He stated that he had made his position.

Shah Rukh remarked that he can do a variety of roles as his face is not a regular sweet-boy face or an action hero's face. He called it a mixture of the two.

Deewana, Chamatkar, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, and Dil Aashna Hai were released in 1992. The year played a pivotal role in solidifying Shah Rukh as one of the most promising figures in the entertainment arena and labelling him as a contender for the top spot.

On the silver screen, Shah Rukh Khan will next be seen in King. The upcoming flick is being directed by renowned filmmaker Siddharth Anand. It is likely to feature his daughter Suhana Khan and actor Abhishek Bachchan in key roles. However, further details - including its release date and storyline - have not been disclosed by the makers yet. The filming of King has already commenced.

Dunki marked Shah Rukh's last theatrical outing. The Rajkumar Hirani directorial, released in 2023, turned out to be a commercial success. The plot of the film revolves around an ex-soldier who embarks on a journey with his friends from Punjab to enter the UK unlawfully.

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Based on the illegal immigration technique called donkey flight, the movie was produced under the banners of Rajkumar Hirani Films, along with Jio Studios and Red Chillies Entertainment. As per Sacnilk, it raked in Rs 272 crore in India upon its release. The industry tracker further tells that Dunki minted Rs 182 crore overseas, taking its worldwide total to Rs 454 crore at the global Box Office. It opened to mostly mixed reviews from critics and audiences.

Curated By - Raghav Jaitly!