Nikitin Dheer on Shah Rukh Khan’s kindness during Chennai Express: “I would sit in the corner and do…” : Bollywood News

Actor Nikitin Dheer shared his heartwarming experience of working with Shah Rukh Khan on the film Chennai Express. In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Dheer recalled how Shah Rukh Khan's kindness and encouragement made a lasting impact on him. Despite Dheer being relatively unknown at the time, Shah Rukh went out of his way to make him feel comfortable and included on the set.

Nikitin Dheer on Shah Rukh Khan’s kindness during Chennai Express: “I would sit in the corner and do…”

Dheer remembered feeling overwhelmed by the large sets and star-studded cast. "On the first day, I was quite taken aback because I was an unknown. Deepika Padukone was there with her entourage, Shah sir was there with his entourage, and Rohit Shetty’s sets are huge. I would sit in the corner and do my thing, but the magnanimity of Shah Rukh Khan… Instead of calling me to him, he brought his own chair next to me and sat down. I’ll never forget it." This gesture exemplified Shah Rukh's gracious nature and set the tone for their working relationship.

Shah Rukh's philosophy that "a hero is only as strong as the villain" played a crucial role in boosting Dheer's confidence. Despite Shah Rukh's own shoulder injury, he insisted on performing his stunts and encouraged Dheer to do the same. In a tense scene where Dheer had to grab Shah Rukh's cheek and deliver a challenging line, Shah Rukh reassured him, saying, "Do whatever you want, however you want to do it. The more intimidating you are, the better the scene will be." This encouragement helped Dheer deliver a strong performance.

Furthermore, Shah Rukh ensured that Dheer was included in the film’s promotions, a first for him. At the trailer launch, despite feeling like a nobody and staying at the back, Shah Rukh pulled him forward and said, "Out of these 1000 people, even if 20 come for your character, it’s a good thing." Dheer concluded by admiring Shah Rukh's sustained stardom, saying, "When you work with stars of his stature, you realise one thing. It’s easy to become a star, but to maintain that stardom for years is a different level of accomplishment."

Also Read: Nikitin Dheer says he had a “very bad experience” on Jodhaa Akbar set, addresses rumors of tension with Ashutosh Gowariker: “I told my father I’d rethink my life”