Filmmaker Rohit Shetty has finally addressed the long-standing rumours of a fallout with superstar Shah Rukh Khan following the lukewarm performance of their 2015 film Dilwale. Speaking on Komal Nahta’s Game Changers podcast, Shetty dismissed any speculation of a rift, emphasizing the mutual respect he shares with the Bollywood icon.
Rohit Shetty, who teamed up with Shah Rukh Khan on two films — the blockbuster Chennai Express (2013) and the commercially underwhelming Dilwale (2015) — clarified that the latter’s performance did not affect their relationship. “Nahi aisa kuch nahi (There’s nothing like that),” he said, putting to rest years of conjecture.
“Ek respect hai humare beech me (There is mutual respect between us),” Shetty said, reflecting on their professional equation. He further explained that after Dilwale, he and his team launched their own production house, a strategic move to gain creative and financial independence. “Humne decide kiya ki hum khud ki filmein banayenge. Agar loss bhi ho to humara ho, jabki loss nahi hua tha (We decided to make our own films so that if there is any loss, it’s ours. Though there was no loss [with Dilwale]),” he noted.
Despite facing tough competition from Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani at the box office, Dilwale, produced by Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment, performed well internationally. Released on December 18, 2015, the film featured Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Varun Dhawan, and Kriti Sanon.
On the professional front, Shah Rukh Khan is now gearing up for his much-anticipated film King, directed by Siddharth Anand. The action thriller will also feature his daughter Suhana Khan and actor Abhishek Bachchan in lead roles.
With Shetty clearing the air, it’s evident that while Dilwale might not have set domestic box office records, it did little to dent the camaraderie between two of Bollywood’s most influential figures.
Sources By Agencies
