Shah Rukh Khan reveals the downside of playing Devdas in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's blockbuster
Devdas Photograph:( Others )
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Shah Rukh Khan may have heard laurels for his performance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 2002 blockbuster Devdas, but it had a downside as well. Bhansali's film was based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel by the same name and featured SRK as the lovelorn, alcoholic Devdas.
Shah Rukh Khan may have heard laurels for his performance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 2002 blockbuster Devdas, but it had a downside as well. Bhansali's film was based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel by the same name and featured SRK as the lovelorn, alcoholic Devdas.
Shah Rukh Khan may have heard laurels for his performance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 2002 blockbuster Devdas, but it had a downside as well. Bhansali's film was based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel by the same name and featured SRK as the lovelorn, alcoholic Devdas. The film also starred Madhuri Dixit as Chandramukhi while Aishwarya Rai played Paro.
Recently, at the Locarno Film Festival, SRK discussed some of his best works. Talking about Devdas he revealed that he resorted to drinking during the film to get into the character.
While Devdas was a smash hit and considered an important film in the careers of those involved, it did lead to Khan taking up drinking.
When probed if it worked in his favour, he wittily remarked that it did, professionally, since it fetched him the Best Actor Award. However, he stated that there was also a downside. “It might have helped, but I started drinking after the film and that’s one downside to it.”
Khan also reflected on the complex character of Devdas and how he wanted viewers to feel mixed emotions. “I didn’t want you to feel love for him, but I didn’t want you to hate him. Nor did I want you to like him for being an alcoholic who runs away from every girl that he falls in love with. I just wanted him to appear indescribable.”
The star revealed that he took up the role as he believed that his later mother, Lateef Fatima, would have liked it. “I just felt that if I made Devdas, she would really like it and appreciate it.”
He added that he did the part because artists like Dilip Kumar, KL Saigal, and Uttam Kumar had played it effortlessly in the past.
Devdas remains one of the finest works of Hindi cinema. It blended opulence, emotions, well-crafted dialogues, and a hit soundtrack with phenomenal acting. Before Bhansali, Bimal Roy adapted the novel in 1955. Dilip Kumar played the titular character in Roy's film.
Shah Rukh Khan was last seen in Rajkumar Hirani’s Dunki in 2023. His next is Sujoy Ghosh’s ‘King.’ The film will have Khan working with his daughter Suhana Khan. The title will star Abhishek Bachchan as the antagonist.
