New Delhi: Shah Rukh Khan once thought of retiring from acting at 30. More than three decades later, the actor is preparing for King’s release as he turns 61 on Monday.
In a 1992 interview, shortly after the success of his Bollywood debut Deewana, Khan spoke about his plans to retire at 30, much like Aamir Khan. Calling Aamir his “closest rival”, Khan clarified that he isn’t a competition.
“He is a far better actor. If there is a superb actor in the country today…it’s Aamir. I have heard that he wants to retire after 30 and turn director. I plan to quit at 30 too,” SRK told Filmfare.
While Deewana had introduced Khan to a wider audience and established him as a promising new face, the actor was not at all impressed with his own performance. Refusing to take credit for the film’s success, he described his acting as “awful. loud. vulgar and uncontrolled.”
“I overacted terribly, and I take full responsibility for it. But that’s what happens when you work without a graph. I didn’t even have the script with me. I was to start shooting for the film much later, but then some of my other schedules got cancelled, and I allotted my dates to this film,” he said.
Khan called himself his “worst critic”, admitting that he was appalled when he watched himself on screen.
“Isn’t it amazing that people have liked me in the film? Perhaps that’s because I am a fresh face. It’s not a performance I would care to repeat or remember,” he added.
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‘Film should do well because of me’
For the actor, the film’s success had little to do with his performance. He believed its music had done much of the heavy lifting, crediting composer duo Nadeem-Shravan for its popularity. He also praised director Raj Kanwar for the song picturisations and acknowledged the contributions of his co-stars Rishi Kapoor, Divya Bharti, Deven Verma and Amrish Puri.
“But if the film is remembered, it will be because of Nadeem Shravan. A lot of films have been running because of their music. I would love to be in their shoes now – be as successful as an actor as they are music directors,” he added.
Khan was very clear about the kind of star he wanted to become. He did not want audiences to walk out remembering only the film or its music. He wanted to be the reason they watched it.
“Of course. I wish people could say that ‘the film’s music is good, but Shah Rukh is better,’” he added.
Khan also believed that as an actor he owed it to a film’s producers to deliver his best, given the money invested in his appearance, travel, meals and remuneration. He dismissed the idea that an actor could ride on a film’s success without making a meaningful contribution.
“I don’t want to be successful because of my film. The film should do well because of me. It shouldn’t be a hit if it was done by some baboon or the other,” he said.
And if there is anyone else who is SRK’s worst critic after himself, it is his wife, Gauri Khan. The actor said his wife often calls him out for his overacting.
“My wife doesn’t think I am a good actor. Gauri says I overact all the time and I don’t even look good on screen. Normally she doesn’t bother to see my work, but in this case she made an exception. So far I haven’t been able to muster up the courage to go to a theatre and see the film,” he added.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)