‘Pathaan hoon, goli maar do’: Sanjay Gupta says Shah Rukh Khan was 'only guy' who refused to bow to underworld threats
Here's the latest update from the Bollywood world:
Shah Rukh Khan rose to stardom in the 90s when Bollywood was still under the shadow and threats of the underworld. From movie stars to directors, everyone was a target, recalled filmmaker Sanjay Gupta in a new interaction with Hussain Zaidi Files on their YouTube channel. However, if there was one person who refused any offer from them, it was Shah Rukh Khan.
Adding to this, Shah Rukh Khan as per reports refused to bow down to pressure from the underworld. (File/AFP) What Sanjay Gupta shared During the chat, Sanjay shared, “I have seen the underworld in its peak in Bombay… There was one Punjabi star, he was found dead at Movie City, and it was later disclosed that he was an informant. Manisha Koirala's secretary, such a simple fellow, and then one fine day someone walked to his office and shot him dead. Then they fired at Rakesh Roshan ji… we were open, soft targets. These are not extortion calls but these are different…”
Meanwhile, He went on to add that almost every top star and star were signed in the papers for films that would be made. He added that they would come on set and see the shooting as well. "The only guy in the movie industry, Shah Rukh Khan, when he was threatened, he shared, ‘Picture to kabhi nahi karunga, show kabhi nahi karunga. Pathaan hoon, goli maarni hai maar do (I will never do the movie or show, I am a Pathaan, just shoot me if you want)’. I am not scared of you, but I will not work with you and not do shows for you. He actually collected their respect. They also must have felt that there’s at least one person…” shared Sanjay.
Notably, Earlier, while speaking on a podcast with Ranveer Allahbadia, even filmmaker Farah Khan had admitted that pressure did exist in the 90s. When she was asked whether the three Khans were pressurised by the underworld, Farah shared, “Yes.” When further questioned about Shah Rukh receiving a call, she shared, “I don't know. But, I know that during Duplicate or Kuch Kuch Hota Hai premiere, Karan had got a underworld threat, and it was very scary. Everyone was discussing whether the premiere should be cancelled or we should go ahead with it.”
As per the latest buzz, Shah Rukh dabbled in theatre and had his first starring role in the 1988 TV show Dil Dariya. However, due to production delays, Fauji marked his acting debut, and the series based on army cadets made him a household name. He also starred in TV shows like Circus, Idiot, Umeed and Wagle Ki Duniya after that.
In further updates, Despite gaining fame, Shah Rukh wasn’t initially interested in acting. It was only after his mother’s death in 1990 that he changed his mind and moved to Mumbai from Delhi to pursue a career in Bollywood. He debuted on the silver screen with the 1992 movie Deewana, and there has been no looking back after that.
On top of that, Following the rollout of the 2023 films Pathaan and Jawan, Shah Rukh will star in Siddharth Anand’s King, slated for rollout in December 2026.
Santanu Das is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over 5 years of experience, writing on films, pop culture and movie festivals. He has a keen interest in writing about South Asian independent films and has covered several movie festivals, including Sundance and CPH: Docx. He also brings a sharp perspective to the monthly column called The Fault in Our Stars, where he writes about a recent movie/series and what stops the ‘good’ from becoming ‘great’. A gold medalist from Banaras Hindu University, Santanu completed his postgraduate studies in English from Jadavpur University. He is also a Rotten Tomatoes-certified movie critic. When not watching films or in conversation with celebrities, Santanu can be found reading a book. Some of his favourite films are Aparajito, Ponyo and The Double Life of Veronique. His favourite books include The Corrections, The God of Small Things and A Room of One's Own. Santanu continues to write passionately about films and star culture. He brings a relatable, as well as critically informed, lens to entertainment and culture for a wide audience. Find him on LinkedIn: santanudasfilm Instagram: @santupecha Read More
Source: Hindustan Times