‘Why Has He Not Worked In Hollywood’? Shah Rukh Khan Answers

New Delhi: Considering his larger-than-life image and crazy fandom in India, Shah Rukh Khan has often been asked why he hasn’t ever acted in a Hollywood film. The actor always says he will take up a project which doesn’t “let down” the respect the Indian audience has showered on him. He was asked the same question in an interview with Variety recently.

If Hollywood comes knocking, what will Shah Rukh Khan do? The superstar jokes, “Speak English well enough.”

He was asked the same question in an interview with Variety recently. Shah Rukh Khan was asked why he has not done a Hollywood movie in his career spanning more than 30 years. The actor called Hollywood the “world’s greatest and biggest cinema” in terms of its reach.

“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. I come across as very flippant and happy-go-lucky, but I fully respect and realize the amount of adulation I have, how people adore me. People look up to what I do. People have given me too much respect. People have given me and my family everything that I have, people of India and all around the world, Indians and people from the subcontinent.”

Shah Rukh said he has to keep this “respect” whenever he plays a role in any film, including Hollywood, which hasn’t offered him such a part. “I don’t have an agent there. I’ve not also gone looking for it, to be honest.” The actor added that his dream is to be a part of an Indian film which is seen by a global audience, the way a Hollywood film reaches out to a wide section of viewers.

“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. I just want an Indian story to be accepted worldwide, and hopefully I can be a small part of it.”

As for his children, SRK said he is not in a position to advise them, because the circumstances and workings of the Indian film industry are so unique that it won’t turn out for them how it turned out to be for him.

“I do find myself having less knowledge than my children about the way the world now perceives art or entertainment. I’m very good with the acting part. So, if they ever come to me and say, like my daughter does, ‘There’s a scene, can I just rehearse with you?’ I’m not telling her how to say it, because I think her expression may be more relevant to how people like expressions now. I’m very intrigued by why people do it differently than I would, and that’s the reason I would never give them advice on how to do it.

“My son is making his first series of storytelling directorial debut. He does come and ask me, ‘Does it work? Can it be shorter?’ “No, I like it long.” I feel it’s important to say that. So, we have discussions, but I don’t know if I can put it as an advisory. They both need to roll as they feel. And hopefully, if I can work with them, maybe [I’ll give them advice] during work. I learn and teach a lot. That’s what actors are supposed to do, give and take,” he added.