The reluctant romantic

Shah Rukh Khan talks love for multiple genres, Bollywood's global takeover

In a candid interview with Variety at the 77th Locarno Film Festival, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan proved he's still the king of hearts – and now, the king of action too. The charismatic actor, fresh off the success of his blockbuster hits Pathaan and Jawan, opened up about his career evolution, the changing landscape of Indian cinema, and his dreams for Bollywood's global future.

Despite being known worldwide as Bollywood's ultimate romantic hero, Khan dropped a bombshell that might shock his legions of fans. "As much as I love it, I'm surprised by the term of being a romantic hero. I've never thought of myself as that, to be honest," he revealed. In fact, Khan estimates he's only done about "five or six romantic films" that are considered true classics in the genre.

Even more surprising? "Strangely, my least favourite is romantic films," Khan admitted with a chuckle. Instead, the actor professed his love for a wide range of genres, from science fiction and courtroom dramas to thrillers and even the occasional horror flick.

While fans may swoon over his romantic roles, Khan's recent pivot to high-octane action has set box office records ablaze. Pathaan and Jawan dominated 2023, showcasing a new side of the veteran actor. But the star insists this isn't a calculated reinvention.

An action hero

"For me, it's not a reinvention, it's the requirement of a role," he explained. "I didn't reinvent myself to play a vertically challenged person in Zero, I didn't reinvent myself to play Fan as a little psychotic. It's just adhering to and being honest to the genre of film that I'm in."

The actor credits the COVID-19 pandemic for giving him the opportunity to physically prepare for these demanding roles. "COVID allowed me to build the body. You're sitting at home working out. So, it all fell into place," he said.

Khan's approach to his career is both whimsical and profound. "I have a dream," he shared. "I want to have a room with pictures where - and this is not a narcissistic thing - if I look at my work, every film should feel of a genre that I have grown up watching."

This dream room would be a testament to Khan's versatility, showcasing his ability to inhabit roles across the cinematic spectrum. It's a fitting aspiration for an actor who has starred in an impressive 65 films over his three-decade career.

The hiatus that wasn't

Khan addressed the period before his recent blockbusters, when some of his films underperformed at the box office and he took a self-imposed break. Contrary to speculation, he insists the hiatus wasn't due to disappointment over box office returns.

"I've always maintained that the day I don't feel like getting up in the morning and conquering the shoot, I don't want to work," Khan explained. He recounted a surprising moment when he called a producer to say he didn't want to work for a year – a decision that shocked even those who knew him best.

"I just didn't want to work. I just didn't want to act. I didn't feel like acting. Because for me, acting is genuinely very, very organic," he reflected.

While Khan has conquered the Indian film industry, he hasn't yet made the leap to Hollywood. But that doesn't mean he's not open to the possibility – with some important caveats.

"I don't think I'm in a position to choose and put conditions," he said humbly. "But yes, when an opportunity arises - I hope I can speak English well enough. And, I don't want to sound uppity, but it should be a role worthy of the status the Indian audience has given me. It should not let down."

Khan's ultimate dream, however, extends far beyond personal accolades. "My dream is to get that one Indian film to be seen with the kind of audience that a big Hollywood film is seen, whether I'm part of it as an actor, as a light man, as a producer, as a writer, as a presenter," he shared passionately. "I just want an Indian story to be accepted worldwide, and hopefully I can be a small part of it."

Bollywood's global ambassador

Reflecting on his 35-plus years in the industry, Khan offered insights into how Bollywood has evolved, especially in the wake of the pandemic. "What has really changed over 30 years is the fact that you need to tell stories which appeal to a lot of people in the same room for different reasons," he observed.

Khan emphasised the importance of mixing genres to create films that are "as complicated as human emotions, while as simple to understand as human emotions." He pointed to the classic Sholay as an example of a film that successfully blends action, comedy, romance, and drama.

Looking to the future, Khan made a bold prediction: "What has changed is I think the world is now turning to masala films. I think that's how I'd like to put it. Everybody in the world is wanting to make Bollywood films."

As for what's next on his royal agenda, Khan teased an upcoming project called King, directed by Sujoy Ghosh and creatively produced by Pathaan director Siddharth Anand. "It is an action drama, it's a Hindi film," Khan revealed. "It'll be interesting. I've been wanting to do a film like that for some time, and I really wanted to do a film like this for seven, eight years."