Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan has explained why he took a break from full-length films for over four years following the release of Zero in 2018. In a recent interview with a foreign magazine, after receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Locarno Film Festival, Khan discussed his extended hiatus from acting before his triumphant return with Pathaan, Jawan, and Dunki last year.
Khan shared that he was initially set to begin filming Saare Jahan Se Achha, a biopic directed by Mahesh Mathai, a month after Zero’s release. However, he withdrew from the project at the last minute because he had lost his passion for acting.
“I called the producer and told him that I needed a year off from work,” Khan revealed. He recalled, “He said, ‘It’s not possible. You don’t sit idle for even a minute. If you don’t like the film, just say no; don’t say you’re taking a year off.’ A year and a half later, he called me back and said, ‘I was really surprised you actually took a break.’”
Khan explained, “I just didn’t want to work. I didn’t feel like acting. Acting is very organic for me, and I’ve always said that if I don’t feel excited to get up and tackle a shoot, I don’t want to do it. It wasn’t about the failure of the films, honestly.”On the professional front, Khan is preparing to start filming for his next project, Sujoy Ghosh’s King. The action-packed thriller will also feature his daughter Suhana and actor Abhishek Bachchan in significant roles.
