Mahesh Bhatt says Shah Rukh Khan’s “warmth and affection remained steadfast” despite giving 2 flops with him: “He truly is one of a kind” 2 : Bollywood News

On Shah Rukh Khan's 58th birthday, his longtime admirer and director of his films Chaahat (1996) and Duplicate (1998), Mahesh Bhatt, spoke to ETimes about what makes King Khan so special.

Mahesh Bhatt says Shah Rukh Khan’s “warmth and affection remained steadfast” despite giving 2 flops with him: “He truly is one of a kind”

Bhatt said that Shah Rukh is a "true miracle" who thrives in an industry that often disguises itself as art. He also praised Shah Rukh's unwavering spirit and his ability to navigate challenges with grace and wisdom.

Bhatt recalled that he is the only director with two flops alongside Shah Rukh Khan, but despite that Shah Rukh always treated him with respect, even though his contribution meant “nothing” for his career. Bhatt said that Shah Rukh's warmth and affection remained steadfast, unaffected by the box office performance.

“Despite this, Shah Rukh treated me with unwavering respect, even though my contribution meant nothing for his career trajectory. Typically, stars distance themselves from directors associated with failure, treating them like outcasts. However, Shah Rukh’s warmth and affection remained steadfast, unaffected by the box office performance,” said Bhatt.

The veteran filmmaker further added, “I learned from him that genuine relationships withstand the trials of failure, in this failure-abhorring, success-worshipping industry. People like him are a rarity in this industry. He truly is one of a kind.”

Having said that, it is worth noting that though Mahesh Bhatt and Shah Rukh Khan have not collaborated again since the 1990s, the former's daughter, Alia Bhatt, has worked with Shah Rukh in several films, including Dear Zindagi (2016), Brahmastra (2022), and Zero (2018). Shah Rukh also produced the Netflix film Darlings (2022) with Alia.

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