Amitabh Bachchan heaps praise on Shah Rukh Khan's 'Swades' performance
Mumbai, August 12
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who has returned as the host of the iconic quiz reality show Kaun Banega Crorepati with its 18th season, recently heaped praise on superstar Shah Rukh Khan's performance in the 2004 film, 'Swades'.
During the game show with contestant Bablu Kumar Pandit, a question related to Shah Rukh Khan was asked.
It was here when Amitabh Bachchan paused for a few seconds to laud SRK for his iconic character potrayal in Swades.
"Swades, unki joh picture thi mera aisa manna hai ki joh abhinay unhone Swades mein kia na, woh ekdm uttam tha, aur kai baar milte hai jab main unse yahi bolta hun," Amitabh said.
(The character portrayal by Shahrukh Khan in his movie Swades was phenomenal. I have told him this many a times whenever we have met)
He further explained the three roles associated with the question, saying, "Swades mein Shah Rukh Khan ne ek NASA vaigyanik ki bhumika nibhayi thi, aur Chak De! India mai hockey coach thein, aur Veer-Zaara mein IAF pilot."
For the uninitiated, Shah Rukh played NASA scientist Mohan Bhargava in Swades, Kabir Khan, the coach of the Indian women's hockey team, in Chak De! India, and Squadron Leader Veer Pratap Singh in Veer-Zaara.
Released in 2004, Swades was directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and featured Shah Rukh alongside debutant Gayatri Joshi.
The film, which centred on an NRI NASA scientist returning to India and reconnecting with his roots, received great applause from audiences and critics alike.
Talking about Amitabh Bachchan, the actor even at the age of 83, has been working round the clock.
The actor recently had revealed how he had been caught with professional commitments for 24 hours straight and was also shooting for Kaun Banega Crorepati.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally someone from the industry acknowledges Swades! For years we've been celebrating his romantic roles but this was his real masterpiece. The scene where he breaks down seeing his childhood home still gives me chills. Big respect to Big B for recognizing true art ❤️
As someone who grew up in the US and saw this film during a visit to India, I can say it changed my perspective entirely. SRK's performance made me question my own identity. Great to see legends appreciating legends.
Swades was ahead of its time. Critics called it slow but the film's message about rural development is more relevant today than ever. Amitabh ji is right - the performance was extraordinary. Wish more Bollywood stars did meaningful films like this instead of just commercial masala.
The respect between Amitabh ji and SRK is something else! Two legends who have given Indian cinema so much. Swades will always be special - it's not just a film, it's an emotion. The way SRK portrayed the conflict of an NRI torn between two worlds was so authentic. 🙏
Honestly, I think the industry failed to market Swades properly. It deserved more box office success. But art eventually finds its audience. 20 years later, we still discuss it. Big B mentioning it on national television is the recognition this gem always deserved.
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