When it comes to Bollywood dreams, Shah Rukh Khan still reigns supreme. And according to National Award-winning actor Saurabh Shukla, working with the superstar is the kind of opportunity most actors would chase with open arms, literally! Speaking about the upcoming mega-film ‘King’, Shukla joked that actors would “give their right arm” just to share screen space with SRK.
The actor, who has previously worked with Shah Rukh in hits like ‘Baadshah’ and ‘Hey Ram’, revealed that the excitement around ‘King’ is palpable across the industry.
“70 percent of Bollywood is in King”, but wait, there’s more
Earlier, Shukla made headlines when he claimed that “70 percent of Bollywood” is associated with ‘King’. Naturally, everyone went into overdrive, imagining an all-star extravaganza. But the actor was quick to clarify his words.
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“It was just to highlight the scale of the film and the enthusiasm around it,” he told IANS. Shukla explained that his comment didn’t mean only actors are involved. “When I say 70 percent of the industry, it doesn’t just mean actors. The industry isn’t made of actors alone. Sure, actors may be 70 or 80 percent of the people involved, but everyone wants to be part of a big film like this.”
In short: ‘King’ is massive, and everyone wants a slice of the action.
Ensemble casts
The conversation soon turned to the trend of ensemble casts in Bollywood, with Shukla weighing in on whether this is the new rule for big films.
“Not exactly,” he said. “Of course, an ensemble cast is great. When each character is treated with dignity, every actor becomes an integral part of the story. That’s what makes it an ensemble cast. Ideally, every film should respect and include each role this way.”
Clearly, for Shukla, it’s not just about big names. It’s about giving each actor their due.
The Shah Rukh factor
It’s no secret that Shah Rukh Khan still carries unmatched star power, and Shukla’s words confirm it. The actor says the main reason for the buzz around ‘King’ is the chance to work with SRK himself.
“That’s what it is,” Shukla said. “Everybody loves Shah Rukh. One call from his office, or if he calls personally, you will give your right arm to work with him.”
Even veterans like Shukla can’t resist the allure of Shah Rukh’s presence on set. The excitement is infectious.
Shukla plays it mysterious
While Saurabh is full of praise for the film and his superstar co-star, he’s keeping his own role under wraps. When asked about how many scenes he has in ‘King’, he gave a cryptic reply: “You will have to watch it to find out. They reveal only as much as they want about the film. I am nobody to… I can reveal as much as you want about ‘Khuli Kitaab’, but not about ‘King’.”
In true Bollywood style, the mystery only adds fuel to the fire.