Shah Rukh Khan, who turns 59 today, perhaps, had a vastly different perception when it comes to his acting career while sharply contrasting the romantic icon by which he was so stereotyped.
In a memorable podcast appearance on 'What Cyrus Says', filmmaker Nikkhil Advani revealed, as if for the first time, an unexpected side of Shah Rukh. "He hates love stories," Advani says, recalling his experience while working with Shah Rukh on 'Ra.One'. He said that Shah Rukh Khan insistently believed that his character should be driven more by drama rather than romance. As he has often preferred not to take the conventional road, it makes one analyze whether such changes helped to bring a great film on the screen in which one would have always looked out for Shah Rukh Khan.
Interestingly, Advani revealed that although the most iconic romantic films under his banner are 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai', 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge', and 'Devdas', not one of those films appeared in the list of favorites of Shah Rukh. He said 'Dil Se', a film directed by Mani Ratnam, was the favorite film of Shah Rukh. Released in 1998, 'Dil Se' was a box office disaster in India, but it did well worldwide, especially in Europe and America. The film gave Shah Rukh's career one of its high points as he portrayed being a flawed and relentless lover, far removed from typical boy-next-door roles that most of his early work established.
Contrasting heroes in movies like 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' and 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge', among others, which had successfully provided a template of a perfect partner many millennials may have dreamed of, he himself personally loved playing character Sunil from 'Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa' too. His character projected him as the unorthodox hero—he neither won the girl at the end nor achieved big victories. Yet, there was something authentic about Sunil that resonated with audiences, showing that even at this developing stage in his career, Shah Rukh could more often bring to the screen a character of vulnerability and weakness.
This was one of the big milestones for Shah Rukh, who translated his idea of highlighting multilateral characters. Even after years, he would praise the depth and reality of Sunil; in fact, it made him different from the ideal ones. This throwback to his initial career shows Shah Rukh Khan transformed into a different actor, showing him not to be scared off by complexity in a world obsessed with romance.
In a memorable podcast appearance on 'What Cyrus Says', filmmaker Nikkhil Advani revealed, as if for the first time, an unexpected side of Shah Rukh. "He hates love stories," Advani says, recalling his experience while working with Shah Rukh on 'Ra.One'. He said that Shah Rukh Khan insistently believed that his character should be driven more by drama rather than romance. As he has often preferred not to take the conventional road, it makes one analyze whether such changes helped to bring a great film on the screen in which one would have always looked out for Shah Rukh Khan.
Interestingly, Advani revealed that although the most iconic romantic films under his banner are 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai', 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge', and 'Devdas', not one of those films appeared in the list of favorites of Shah Rukh. He said 'Dil Se', a film directed by Mani Ratnam, was the favorite film of Shah Rukh. Released in 1998, 'Dil Se' was a box office disaster in India, but it did well worldwide, especially in Europe and America. The film gave Shah Rukh's career one of its high points as he portrayed being a flawed and relentless lover, far removed from typical boy-next-door roles that most of his early work established.
Contrasting heroes in movies like 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' and 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge', among others, which had successfully provided a template of a perfect partner many millennials may have dreamed of, he himself personally loved playing character Sunil from 'Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa' too. His character projected him as the unorthodox hero—he neither won the girl at the end nor achieved big victories. Yet, there was something authentic about Sunil that resonated with audiences, showing that even at this developing stage in his career, Shah Rukh could more often bring to the screen a character of vulnerability and weakness.
This was one of the big milestones for Shah Rukh, who translated his idea of highlighting multilateral characters. Even after years, he would praise the depth and reality of Sunil; in fact, it made him different from the ideal ones. This throwback to his initial career shows Shah Rukh Khan transformed into a different actor, showing him not to be scared off by complexity in a world obsessed with romance.
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