Filmmaker Atlee experienced immense success with his film ‘Jawan‘ featuring Shah Rukh Khan last year. He collaborated with the King of Bollywood for the first time on this project. The filmmaker has now revealed that the actor was initially uncertain about whether his aged character, Vikram Rathore, would be appreciated by the audience.
Shah Rukh portrayed dual roles in the movie , Azad and Vikram Rathore. In a recent interview with Pinkvilla, Atlee shared that he bet the actor that his aged character would turn out to be the ‘mass’ favourite prior to the movie’s release.
When Atlee told SRK to wait and witness the success of his portrayal as Vikram Rathore, the ‘Pathaan’ actor expressed doubt and responded, “No, sir. Girls like me; Azad will be the mass.” Atlee recounted that he stood by his prediction until the film’s release, and after its massive success, Shah Rukh admitted, “Boss, you were right.” The actor acknowledged that Vikram Rathore was indeed the ‘mass’ character and that the audience showed immense love for him.The director further shared his unique perspective on the concept of ‘mass’ in cinema, describing it as an emotional connection grounded in universal experiences. He explained that ‘mass’ emerges from moments that evoke profound emotions, such as shedding tears for a girl or a child, or feeling an impactful emotion, as well as from righteous anger or standing up for society.
According to Atlee, this authentic portrayal of ‘mass’ resonates deeply with audiences, distinguishing it from superficial depictions, and contributes significantly to the success of his films at the box office.
‘Jawan’ also featured Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, Deepika Padukone, Sanya Malhotra, Priyamani, Sanjay Dutt, and others in key roles.
On the work front, Atlee is currently promoting his next production venture, ‘Baby John’, starring Varun Dhawan, Jackie Shroff, Keerthy Suresh, Wamiqa Gabbi, and Rajpal Yadav in lead roles. Directed by Kalees, the film is set to release on 25th December, coinciding with Christmas.
