Rajkumar Hirani Wanted To Work With SRK Ever Since He Watched Circus, Had To Wait For 20 Years

If there was someone who realised Shah Rukh Khan's potential at the beginning of his career when he was still struggling to make it to films, it was Rajkumar Hirani, the man who is hailed as the master of storytelling. Hirani was in college studying the art of filmmaking, when he watched the Bollywood superstar, who wasn't even a superstar back then, in Circus. On that very day, he decided, he wanted to work with him. It could only happen 20 years later in Dunki.

Rajkumar Hirani wanted to work with Shah Rukh Khan ever since he watched Circus

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"I remember studying in a film school and the real struggle for any filmmaker was how we would make our first film. Will we get a producer? Will any actor come on board? So we had a common room where all the students would watch television together. I recall watching this series called Circus and I vividly remember the scene including the camera angle where one actor was performing and delivering a monologue. I didn¡¯t know who he was but I loved his performance.

His wish came true 20 years later with Dunki

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"I told myself once I passed out from school, I would approach him and make a film. It took me two years to graduate from the film institute and by that time, Shah Rukh Khan had become a huge star (laughs). So, I had to wait for 20 years to collaborate with him on a film," the director told News 18.

Khan thinks this is the first time he is playing age-appropriate role

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Shah Rukh Khan had earlier said that his recent release Dunki is close to his heart and that he feels he should play age-appropriate roles as he is 58 years old now. He said that Rajkumar Hirani directorial, he feels, is closest to his age.

"I am 58 now, aur mujhe aise lagta hai ki mujhe age-centric roles karne chahiye (And I feel that I should take age-centric roles)".

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"And if I get an opportunity in a film, of course, 100 percent. Jab hum... Jawan zada commercial (Jawan was too commercial)... in-your-face kind of character hai, I won't call it caricature, but it is an over-the-top old person. But in this film, yeh bohot real hai (It's very real.) Dunki mein bohot real hai. (It is very real in Dunki). I would say I have been age-honest for the first time in Dunki. It's more close to my age," he told Box Office Worldwide.

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