At the 2024 Locarno Film Festival, where he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award, Shah Rukh Khan shared captivating insights into his illustrious acting journey. The Bollywood superstar touched on various aspects of his career, revealing everything from the inspiration behind his iconic arm pose to his deep connection with South Indian cinema. Here are the five key confessions made by Shah Rukh Khan at the festival.
1. Bridging the Gap Between Bollywood & South Cinema
Shah Rukh talked about the importance of viewing Indian cinema as a unified entity rather than compartmentalising it into regional segments. “To regionalise Indian cinema is wrong, to be honest. Our country is so vast with different languages like Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and many more. It’s all Indian cinema,” he said. He praised South Indian cinema for its storytelling prowess, citing films like Jawan, RRR, and Baahubali as examples of how the South has captivated audiences nationwide and beyond.
2. A Special Bond with Filmmaker Atlee
Shah Rukh fondly recounted his collaboration with filmmaker Atlee, revealing that Atlee had named his son after Shah Rukh’s father, Mir Taj Mohammed Khan. Reflecting on their experience working together, he shared how the fusion of Hindi and South Indian cinema in their film was a groundbreaking moment. “It did good business and was loved across the nation,” Shah Rukh noted, highlighting the success of their collaboration.
3. Nostalgia & Devdas
The actor reminisced about watching Devdas as a child while massaging his mother’s feet, a memory that has stayed with him. He shared how his initial reluctance to play the character of Devdas in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s adaptation stemmed from his perception of the character as a “loser.” However, Bhansali’s persistence and belief that Shah Rukh’s eyes were perfect for the role eventually convinced him to take on the iconic part. “It was one of three most wonderful experiences of my life,” he reflected.
4. The Story Behind His Legendary Arm Pose
Shah Rukh revealed that his famous arm pose, a staple in his romantic roles, was born out of his inability to master the “dip” dance move popular in the 90s. After struggling with the dip, his choreographer, Saroj Khan, advised him to simply extend his arms instead. “She didn’t let me do the dip and I had to put my arms out,” Shah Rukh recalled, adding that this impromptu adjustment became one of his most recognized and beloved poses in cinema.
5. A Piece of Advice for Success
In a heartfelt moment, Shah Rukh shared a piece of wisdom he attributes to his success, “One mantra you get for success is keep pressing your mother’s feet.” This personal tradition, he revealed, not only strengthened his bond with his mother but also served as a grounding force throughout his career.
At the Locarno Film Festival, Shah Rukh Khan’s revelations provided fans and film enthusiasts with a deeper understanding of the man behind the screen, his inspirations, and the experiences that have shaped his legendary career.
