Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has once again proven his generosity and deep-rooted principles, as revealed by Renu Chopra, wife of the late filmmaker Ravi Chopra. She recently shared insights into how SRK backed her son Abhay Chopra’s film Ittefaq without even reading the script, purely out of trust and goodwill.
In a recent conversation with Pinkvilla, Renu Chopra recalled how Shah Rukh Khan played a crucial role in helping her son make Ittefaq (2017), a crime thriller starring Akshaye Khanna, Sidharth Malhotra, and Sonakshi Sinha. Despite being one of Bollywood’s biggest stars and a sought-after producer, SRK did not hesitate to support the project.
“Now, Shah Rukh had only done guest appearances for us. When we had to make Ittefaq… Shah Rukh’s office and our office—we share a wall. And we just decided to do it with him. I asked him, ‘Main aa jaaon?’ (Should I come?),” Renu recalled.
SRK, displaying his signature humility, insisted that he would be the one to visit her instead. “He said, ‘Nahi nahi. Aap nahi aoge Renu ji, main aata hoon.’ That respect, ki aap badi hain! (No, no. You won’t come, Renu ji, I will come. That respect, because you are senior!).”
She further mentioned that despite his busy schedule, SRK ensured he gave time to their project. “Maine kaha, ‘Shah Rukh, aate aate 3 hafte ho gaye hain, ab main hi aa jaati hoon.’ (Shah Rukh, it’s been three weeks since you said that, now I will come myself).”
Renu Chopra also recalled a heartfelt conversation with SRK regarding financial support for Ittefaq. When she admitted that she did not have the funds to invest in the film, Shah Rukh Khan assured her that he would take care of it.
“He called me and made me sit and asked, ‘What do you want?’ I said, ‘I do not have money to invest,’ and he said, ‘I will do it.’”
“SRK said okay without reading the script. His funda was, ‘I’ll never back the horse, I’ll back the jockey.’ He said, ‘If your son is backing it, I’ll back it.’”
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Beyond financial assistance, Shah Rukh Khan also upheld his ethical beliefs regarding money. Renu Chopra revealed that even when dealing with finances, SRK chose to forgo any interest charges, considering it against his principles.
Speaking about his generosity, she mentioned that their financial agreement was an equal partnership. “Till date, the money has been 50-50 down the line.”
However, when it came to adding an interest rate on the financial transactions, SRK firmly refused. “And when the picture wrapped up, like all other finances, there’s an interest rate. He said, ‘Nahi, ye haraam hai mere liye. Main nahi lunga.’ (No, this is forbidden for me. I won’t take it.)”
Directed by Abhay Chopra, Ittefaq was released in November 2017 and turned out to be a well-received thriller. The film, inspired by the 1969 Rajesh Khanna-starrer of the same name, impressed audiences with its gripping narrative and strong performances.
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