Shah Rukh Khan says he is 'too short' to play James Bond. But there's a role he likes

Shah Rukh Khan has not worked in Hollywood yet.

Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan said that he would have loved to play the iconic role of James Bond but dismissed the thought saying he was “too short”. The 58-year-old actor was speaking at the 11th edition of the World Government Summit (WGS) in Dubai on Wednesday.

During a session aptly titled "The Making Of A Star: A Conversation With Shah Rukh Khan," the actor not only delved into his illustrious 33-year acting career but also playfully expressed his desire to don the iconic role of James Bond.

Khan quipped, "I am James Bond," when asked about his name, and humorously added, "I really wanted to [play Bond], but I think I am too short... But I am brown enough to play the Bond baddie."

James Bond is a fictional character and the protagonist of a series of spy novels written by British author Ian Fleming. The role has been portrayed several times in dozens of movies by several actors such as Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan and most recently Daniel Craig.

Craig’s contract is up and now the hunt is on for a new James Bond.
The audience at the Madinat Jumeirah cheered on as Khan put up a show of his signature wit and charm.

In another revelation, the actor shared insights into why Hollywood has yet to witness his talent on its silver screen. Responding to queries about crossing over to Hollywood, he clarified, "I know many people from the American and the English film industries. But nobody has offered me good work, and I wondered if I was spreading myself too thin. I was offered Slumdog Millionaire, but I felt that the role of the game show host was too mean."

Anil Kapoor eventually took on the role in the 2008 film, directed by Danny Boyle, which went on to win eight Oscars at the 2009 Academy Awards.

Shah Rukh Khan’s last appearance was in Rajkumar Hirani’s “Dunki”, released in December 2023, and he also starred in back-to-back action-packed hits – Pathaan and Jawaan – last year.