Actor Shah Rukh Khan, who has worked with many prominent filmmakers in Bollywood, has never collaborated with Ram Gopal Varma, a director known for cult classics such as Satya (1998) and Rangeela (1995). Varma has recently disclosed the reasons behind this absence of partnership in their professional histories.
Ram discussed his experiences with Shah Rukh Khan on a podcast, highlighting the actor’s vibrant energy and contrasting it with his own intense filmmaking style. He felt limiting Shah Rukh’s role in a way that diverges from his usual charm would be unfair to both the actor and his fans. Ram mentioned a specific instance where he considered casting Shah Rukh in a project titled “Company,” but felt that the laid-back and lazy character required was not suitable for the actor, despite having a compelling story in mind.
Varma commended Shah Rukh Khan’s remarkable screen presence and autonomy as a performer, noting that his effortless style reduces the need for directorial input. He remarked, “When you tell Shah Rukh about a scene, he gets up and just does it,” highlighting Khan’s exceptional ability to carry a film single-handedly, which he describes as a unique form of stardom. Varma expressed that in working with Khan, he felt there was little for him to contribute, emphasizing Khan’s dominant hold over the cinematic narrative.
Ram Gopal Varma directed the 2024 political thriller Vyuham Part 2, further investigating real-world power dynamics. He is now preparing a horror thriller titled Police Station Mein Bhoot, which tells the story of a gangster who, after being killed in a police encounter, returns as a vengeful spirit to haunt the officers responsible for his death. The film boasts an impressive cast, including Manoj Bajpayee, Genelia Deshmukh, and Ramya Krishnan.
Shah Rukh Khan was recently seen in the film Dunki (2023) directed by Rajkumar Hirani. He is now gearing up for his highly anticipated upcoming film, King, which is an action-thriller. In this film, Khan will share the screen with his daughter, Suhana Khan, marking her first significant theatrical role. The cast also includes notable actors such as Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, and Arshad Warsi.