Tigmanshu Dhulia recalls Shah Rukh Khan sleeping on bus passage during Dil Se shoot, picking up chairs for actors on set of Zero: “Yeh sanskar hain uske”

September 21, 2024 - 5:01 PM IST

Actor Shah Rukh Khan has maintained his stardom for nearly three decades, but it is his humility that continues to leave a lasting impression on those who work with him. Actor-director Tigmanshu Dhulia, who collaborated with Shah Rukh Khan on films like Dil Se and Zero, recently shared anecdotes that highlight the actor’s down-to-earth nature even at the height of his fame.

Tigmanshu Dhulia recalls Shah Rukh Khan sleeping on bus passage during Dil Se shoot, picking up chairs for actors on set of Zero: “Yeh sanskar hain uske”

Shah Rukh Khan Slept on the Floor During Dil Se Shoot

In an interview with Mashable India, Tigmanshu Dhulia recalled working with Shah Rukh Khan during the shoot of Dil Se (1998), directed by Mani Ratnam. Dhulia, who was the dialogue writer for the film, shared how Shah Rukh’s humility stood out, even though he was already a massive star at the time.

“He is such a humble person. I can’t even tell you. I could see even during Dil Se, and he was already a big star at that time,” Dhulia said. The crew shot in remote locations like Ladakh, where luxury amenities like vanity vans were not available. Dhulia recalled that during lunch breaks, Shah Rukh would nap on the floor of the bus, which served as a resting area for the team.

No Star Demands, Just Humility

He recalled, “When we were shooting in Ladakh… with Mani sir, you would just travel on the roads and he would decide this is where he wanted to shoot. So during lunch, there were no vanity vans or anything so the bus we were traveling in, the passage where people walk, Shah Rukh would take a nap there during lunch for 30 minutes. But we (crew members) had things in the bus so we would keep going in and out.”

He further added, “Sometimes, we would go over him to get to a jacket or something but he never objected to anything. He never said no one can enter the bus when I am sleeping. He could have done that. He is the star of the film. If he wants to sleep for 30 minutes, he should get that time undisturbed but that never happened.”

Working with Shah Rukh in Zero

Years later, Tigmanshu Dhulia worked with Shah Rukh Khan again, this time as an actor in Zero (2018), a film produced by Shah Rukh’s home production company. Dhulia played the role of Shah Rukh’s father in the film. He fondly recalled that Shah Rukh’s humility had not changed over the years, despite his continued rise in stardom.

“During Zero, it was his home production, and there were many other actors there. Shah Rukh was so respectful towards everyone. He would pick chairs for everyone, ask them if they had had lunch,” Dhulia shared. He added, “Yeh sanskar hain uske (These are his values).”

Tigmanshu pointed out that a star of Shah Rukh’s stature is not expected to do these small acts of kindness, but the fact that he does them anyway is what makes him stand out. “It’s his manners that make him great,” Dhulia concluded.

Shah Rukh Khan’s next project is King, directed by Sujoy Ghosh, in which he will star alongside his daughter Suhana Khan, marking their first film together.

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