News Mania Desk / Piyal Chatterjee / 2nd November 2024
Shah Rukh Khan recalls how he came to Bollywood to be an action star like his idol Amitabh Bachchan in a section of the documentary series The Romantics on Netflix India. Back then, being a superstar was defined as beating up bad guys, strolling with swag, and being all tough.
By stating that his “eyes should not be wasted on just action,” Yash Chopra persuaded him to change his mind. Shah Rukh became both the superstar he aspired to be and the quintessential love hero of Hindi cinema. Despite his success with his Rahul and Raj personas, Shah Rukh never quite let go of his ambition to be more.
Even though Shah Rukh adores the romantic icon label and the admiration that goes along with it, it is evident that he has never desired it. The actor claimed to view himself as a worker for Shah Rukh Khan, the brand, and the actor in Nasreen Munni Kabir’s enlightening documentary The Outer World of Shah Rukh Khan. All of his decisions and endeavors over the past three decades have been for the brand. However, occasionally that analytical intellect is overpowered by the wants of the actual Shah Rukh.
He still longed for more even after his love roles helped him become the most popular star in Bollywood. With One 2 Ka 4 and Badshah, he attempted to become an action star; with Swades and My Name Is Khan, he attempted to gain recognition as an actor; and sometimes, with outings like Ra.One, he even attempted to give his children what they wanted. Additionally, he persuaded the Chopras to offer him a fight sequence in, of all movies, DDLJ. However, the viewers only wanted him to stand in the Swiss Alps, spread his arms, and serenade a heroine wearing a chiffon saree. And he did that in movie after movie, and we adored him for it.
Shah Rukh no longer cares for that image at the age of fifty-nine. Yes, he will still greet his supporters on the Mannat platform with open arms. After all, it’s all about them. Yes, he will still read a line from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai or the poem Jab Tak Hai Jaan to a blushing host at an event. It’s a good TV show (and reel). However, the man wants to do what he wants on the big screen. He selected Jawan and Pathaan, the two most un-SRK movies imaginable, for his comeback. The only reason both mid-action movies were successful was because the star gave the characters his humor and charisma, which made his famished fans go crazy.
It is evident that the veteran star is now pursuing his childhood dream of being an action star if the rumors that his upcoming film, King, is spiritually similar to Leon The Professional are accurate. Additionally, King will receive more offers of this nature if he works. Actors in their 60s and 70s may still be action superstars, as demonstrated by Rajinikanth and Mammootty. Shah Rukh might do the same. So, the issue is, will we ever see Rahul or Raj again on screen? We don’t have to, is the response. In order to adapt to the times, Shah Rukh has changed who he is. Perhaps he wishes to leave behind more than simply the title of King of Romance. And on this journey, we are all with him.
