Actor Shah Rukh Khan has spilled the tea how director Aditya Chopra initially spoke about working with him in an action film thereafter he narrated the script of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995). Ironically, the filmmaker have kept his promise and made Pathaan after 30 years.
In a fresh statement, Shah Rukh said, “We were shooting for Darr and during the shoot all of us – Pam aunty, Adi, Juhi, we used to play Scrabble at night. From the entire unit, I was very close to Adi, as we were of the same age and we had a good understanding. I have always been very fond of Adi. One day, it was Adi’s birthday, and he asked me if I will do a film and I said ‘I would love to do it’. And then he narrated something where I would be an action hero. Because I was doing Darr as well, I also got excited about it.”
He added, “Then 3-4 years later, he called and said I am coming to narrate an action film. I really wanted to play an action hero because no one was offering me that genre. So, it was my dream to do an action film – where I am wearing a white vest, I have a great body, there’s blood, I am with a girl, holding a gun. Then Adi came and narrated the film to me in Mehboob studio – That film was Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge.”
Shah Rukh further continued, “I was like ismein action kahan hai (Where is the action in this)?! I called Yash ji and asked him what has happened to Adi? What has he narrated saying it’s an action film?’. Then Adi said we will do it next. But then we did Dil Toh Pagal Hai. That also did well, but we never did the action. In fact, he narrated to me one more some four years ago too. Then when they came last, Adi told me that he will come with Sid, and narrate the first 15 mins.”
Shah Rukh wraps up, “They came, narrated the script and left. I was sitting with my manager – Pooja [Dadlani]. I told her ‘Adi is lying. He will not make an action film’. But I really really thank him that after 30 years, he fulfilled his promise and made Pathaan with me. Today, in Maratha Mandir, our DDLJ is going on and so is Pathaan. So, I am very happy that Adi kept his promise. And I am happier that with Pathaan, I have proven it to Adi that I can do action as well. I hope Adi takes me in more action films.”
