At the 77th Locarno Film Festival, Shah Rukh Khan, the renowned Bollywood actor, captured attendees during a detailed masterclass with festival director Giona A. Nazzaro on Sunday.
The session explored Khan’s extensive career, offering insights into his acting methodology, views on celebrity, and reflections on the film industry. The packed audience, representing various nationalities, frequently erupted in enthusiastic declarations of “I love you, Shah Rukh!”
Khan began by sharing his early cinematic influences, recounting how his mother’s passion for film shaped his own interest. “We owned a video cassette recorder, which was a luxury at the time,” he recalled. “My affluent aunt gifted us one.” He reminisced about watching movies while performing the culturally practice of massaging his mother’s feet.
His first theatrical experience came when his mother took him to see Yash Chopra’s “Joshila,” after he excelled in his Hindi-language class. Initially, Khan had planned to stay in Mumbai for just a year in 1990, with ambitions of returning to his original career goals. “I intended to work for a year, earn a lakh rupee, buy a home, and then leave. I’ve stayed longer than expected,” he admitted.
Khan humorously recounted how an early encounter with a director, who described him as “ugly” compared to the ideal “Swiss chocolate” heroes, led him to take on villainous roles like in Chopra’s “Darr.” This eventually paved the way for his role in “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge,” shifting his career trajectory.
Honored with Locarno’s career achievement award, Khan reflected on his journey from Switzerland to receiving the festival’s top honor, marking a poignant moment of completion. The masterclass featured audience participation, with attendees singing his famous songs and Khan demonstrating his trademark pose, originally devised to simplify complex dance routines.
In discussing his film selection process, Khan highlighted the importance of developing a strong rapport with directors. “I invest time in connecting with the director because we collaborate intensely for a year. It’s about enjoying the journey, beyond just performing,” he explained.
Khan’s upcoming film, “King,” directed by Sujoy Ghosh, represents his ongoing pursuit of new and age-specific roles. He noted that the project came to fruition after sharing his ideas with Ghosh, showcasing his commitment to exploring diverse genres.
Reflecting on his 2016 film “Fan,” where he portrayed both a superstar and his obsessive admirer, Khan described the challenge of depicting the anxieties tied to fame as “schizophrenic and disconcerting.” He also revealed that the jaw prosthetic used in “Fan” was initially crafted for Brad Pitt in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.”
On the subject of fame, Khan expressed his nonchalant attitude, saying, “I view stardom like wearing a T-shirt rather than a tuxedo. It’s not the primary focus; it’s an outcome of my work.”
Khan also spoke about his foray into South Indian cinema with “Jawan,” directed by Atlee, praising the region’s exceptional storytelling and technical skill. He emphasized that while technology enhances filmmaking, the core of cinema lies in its emotional and narrative substance. “Technology should be an enhancement, not the foundation,” he said.
Concluding, Khan shared his enduring motivation to bring joy through cinema, emphasizing that film embodies a wide range of human experiences. “I aspire to continue exploring diverse films and emotions throughout my career,” he said.