Shah Rukh Khan discussed Devdas in an interview following his reception of the Pardo alla Carriera Ascona-Locarno Tourism award at the 77th Locarno Film Festival
In his 58-year journey, Shah Rukh Khan, affectionately known as the king of romance, has been part of numerous love stories. He is particularly remembered for his performances in classics like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and the iconic Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. However, Khan has also taken on roles in tragic love stories, one of which is the 2002 Sanjay Leela Bhansali film Devdas, where he portrayed the heartbroken character, Dev. The film garnered significant acclaim, winning 11 Filmfare awards and premiering at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, where it received a standing ovation for several minutes, as shared by Bhansali in an interview.
During an interview after receiving the Pardo alla Carriera Ascona-Locarno Tourism award at the 77th Locarno Film Festival, Shah Rukh Khan spoke candidly about his experiences while filming Devdas. He revealed that he felt quite anxious during the shooting and resorted to alcohol to help him embody the character. When asked if drinking helped him in his performance, he humorously noted that he ended up winning the Best Actor award, but he acknowledged that it led to him drinking more afterward, which he considered a downside.
Khan also discussed the reasons behind accepting the role, despite warnings from industry veterans. He shared that he had a desire to create large-scale films, fueled by a faint hope that his late parents would watch them from heaven. He believed his mother would have particularly appreciated Devdas. He expressed that he felt if he made Devdas, she would truly like and appreciate it. Despite doubts about his ability to portray the character, given that some of the greatest actors in India, such as Dilip Kumar, KL Saigal, and Uttam Kumar, had played it flawlessly before him, he decided to take on the challenge.
Reflecting on his performance, Shah Rukh mentioned that he aimed to portray Devdas not as a loser but as a non-committing man with his own reasons for his behavior. He emphasized that he did not want the audience to feel love or hate towards the character. Instead, he wanted Devdas to come across as someone complex and indescribable, rather than just an alcoholic running away from love.
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Based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel, Devdas featured notable actors such as Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit, and Jackie Shroff alongside Shah Rukh Khan.