Ram Gopal Varma explains why his long-awaited collab with Shah Rukh Khan never happened; says, 'I had a terrific story for him but...'

Speaking on Radio Nasha’s podcast, Ramu revealed that the root cause was a mismatched creative energy.

Shah Rukh Khan has a long list of collaborations with top filmmakers, but he has never worked with Ram Gopal Varma. Known for genre-defining titles like Satya, Rangeela, and Company, RGV has finally opened up about why a project with SRK never materialised, even though the two had several discussions over the years.

Speaking on Radio Nasha’s podcast, Ramu revealed that the root cause was a mismatched creative energy. According to him, Shah Rukh’s natural on-screen dynamism didn’t align with the restrained tone of his films. “We had many meetings, but I always felt Shah Rukh is like a live wire bursting with energy,” he said. “My filmmaking style is composed and intense. Restricting Shah Rukh to that space felt unfair to him and to the fans who come expecting his trademark charm and charisma.”

Interestingly, RGV once considered casting SRK in his acclaimed gangster drama Company. But he quickly realised the role wasn’t the right fit. “At one point, I approached him for Company,” he said. “But Mallik’s character needed to be very laid-back and lazy that’s the opposite of what people expect from Shah Rukh. I had a terrific story for him, but it didn’t happen.”

The filmmaker went on to praise Shah Rukh’s effortless command over his craft, even suggesting that SRK’s presence can overshadow directorial influence. “When you tell Shah Rukh about a scene, he gets up and just does it. He’s fantastic. I felt there was nothing for me to do in his film. Directors don’t make a big difference in his movies because he can hold the camera entirely on his own. That’s a very different kind of stardom.”

Also read: Ram Gopal Varma defends SS Rajamouli amid Varanasi atheism row; calls out critics for 'baseless attacks'

While RGV last delivered the political thriller Vyuham Part 2 in 2024, he is now preparing for his next venture, a supernatural thriller titled Police Station Mein Bhoot. The film follows a gangster who returns as an avenging ghost after being killed in a police encounter, and features Manoj Bajpayee, Genelia Deshmukh, and Ramya Krishnan.

Shah Rukh Khan, meanwhile, is currently gearing up for King, one of his most anticipated upcoming projects. The action thriller will see him share screen space with his daughter Suhana Khan in her first major big-screen role, alongside Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Arshad Warsi and many others.