Shah Rukh Khan is undoubtedly one of the most celebrated actors globally, and King Khan always keeps the competition high with his unique roles. As a star who entered Bollywood with no legacy, he built his own era in the industry.
In a recent chat, he revealed that despite many veteran stars discouraging him from doing Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Devdas‘, he took the role for his late mother, thinking she would enjoy it from heaven.
After receiving the Pardo alla Carriera Ascona-Locarno Tourism award at the 77th Locarno Film Festival, Shah Rukh shared some stories about his career and movies in a chat organized by the producers of the event. He discussed his decision to take on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Devdas’ (2002), despite receiving advice from industry veterans to reconsider. He explained that his motivation stemmed from a deep-seated belief that his late mother, Lateef Fatima, would have appreciated the film. Khan expressed a sentimental notion that creating grand films allows his parents to watch over him from heaven, describing it as a ‘childish thought.’ “For some reason, I always felt that if I make films that are very big, my mom and dad could see them from heaven,” he stated. He emphasized that he still perceives his mother as a star, affirming the lasting impact she has on his life and career.
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The ‘Jawan’ actor expressed his belief that his portrayal in ‘Devdas’ would resonate with his late mother, stating, “I just felt that if I made ‘Devdas’, she would really like it and appreciate it.” He acknowledged the daunting task of stepping into a role previously played by legendary actors like Dilip Kumar, KL Saigal, and Uttam Kumar, admitting he didn’t feel his performance matched their brilliance. Despite advice from senior actors urging him not to take on the role, Khan remained determined to pursue the project, also praising director Sanjay Leela Bhansali for his work.
The actor shared his perspective on portraying the character of Devdas, emphasizing that he aimed to depict him not as a loser but as a non-committal man with valid reasons for his behavior. He stated, “I didn’t want you to feel love for him, but I didn’t want you to hate him.” Khan sought to create a complex character who wouldn’t evoke pity for his alcoholism or his tendency to flee from love but instead appear “indescribable.”
Shah Rukh revealed that he felt significant anxiety while filming ‘Devdas’, which led him to turn to alcohol during the process. When asked if drinking helped him in his performance, he humorously remarked, “Well, I got the Best Actor award.” However, he acknowledged a downside to this approach, admitting that he began drinking after the film was completed.
Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit, Jackie Shroff, and Kirron Kher also played key roles in ‘Devdas’.