In an interview with Variety, Shah Rukh Khan explained that his choice to take a break was rooted in his desire for creative variety rather than the box office outcome.“I try to make it as varied as possible, given the parameters of commercial cinema,” he said.
He noted that while films should have songs, dances, and emotions, he also aims to bring something new to the table. Despite some of his recent films, like Jab Harry Met Sejal and Fan, not performing well, SRK expressed his love for these projects. He believes that the essence of cinema lies in its ability to communicate simply and broadly.
The superstar then stressed that his hiatus was not a response to his films’ failures. “The hiatus wasn’t because of the films. I’ve always maintained that the day I don’t feel like getting up in the morning and conquering the shoot, I don’t want to work,” he shared, recounting a moment in December when he realized he didn’t want to continue with a film he was scheduled to shoot in January.
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SRK’s decision to take a year off came as a surprise to many, including his producer. “I called the producer and I said to him that I don’t want to work for a year. He said, ‘It’s not possible. You don’t sit without working for even a minute. So you don’t like the film, say no, don’t say you’re not working for a year,’” Khan revealed. The producer later admitted his surprise when Shah Rukh indeed took the time off.
Reflecting on his break, SRK concluded, “So I just didn’t want to work. I just didn’t want to act. I didn’t feel like acting. Because for me, acting is genuinely very, very organic.”
After the blockbuster success of Pathaan, Jawan and Dunki, Shah Rukh Khan is now gearing up for his upcoming film with Sujoy Ghosh. He will be seen sharing screen space with his daughter Suhana Khan for the first time.