Shah Rukh Khan is fresh off the release of his recent film, Dunki, directed by Rajkumar Hirani. Amidst the buzz, he shared insights about his films Jawan and Pathaan in a recent interview, shedding light on his collaboration with Hirani.

In an exclusive conversation with Zoom, Shah Rukh Khan delved into Jawan, Pathaan, and Dunki, emphasising the entertainment factor in films. He expressed, “Mujhe aisa lagta hai ki hum bohot zyada analyse karte hai films ko. We keep on talking too much about mass-oriented, content-oriented, etc. I think films are entertainment-oriented. Kisi bhi tarah se woh hamare dil ko bahae, entertain kare, jo bhi unka topic ho. Mujhe nahi lagta Jawan ya Pathaan mass cinema the. They’re just entertaining films.” 

Praising Rajkumar Hirani’s prowess as a director, SRK highlighted Hirani’s unique ability for entertainment, stating, “There is no other entertaining director than Hirani.”

Additionally, Shah Rukh Khan shared the director’s pivotal role in shaping a film, mentioning, “I think, inshallah, Dunki will be a very entertaining film. Lots and lots of people will watch it because lots and lots of people have watched Rajkumar Hirani films.”

Dunki which also features Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal, Boman Irani and others in key roles, hit the screens on December 21, 2023.

Karan Johar’s first directorial venture, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, holds a special position in Bollywood’s history, hailed as an iconic film since its release in 1998. Over time, however, the movie faced criticism for perpetuating toxic masculinity and regressive notions concerning female representation, sparking debates about its underlying themes.

Acknowledging the film’s problematic elements, Karan Johar openly addressed its flaws, citing an impactful critique from veteran actress Shabana Azmi. At the Indian Film Festival in Melbourne in 2019, Johar recalled Azmi’s candid reaction upon watching the film. She expressed disappointment regarding its on-screen portrayal, labelling KKHH as “the most politically incorrect film.” Azmi particularly raised concerns about the stereotypical link between a girl’s beauty and the length of her hair. Karan humbly accepted her viewpoint, admitting, “I know you’re right,” in response to her passionate critique.

Reflecting on the casting process, Johar shared an anecdote about pitching the film to Shah Rukh Khan without a script, relying solely on a scene to captivate the actor’s interest. Despite initial refusals from prominent actresses like Tabu, Urmila Matondkar, and Aishwarya Rai, Karan reminisced about Rani Mukerji’s eventual casting after  a recommendation from Aditya Chopra.

The Karnataka government has not given any order to end the ban on wearing the hijab in educational institutions, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Saturday, a day after media reports claimed the hijab ban has been removed.

The ban by the previous BJP government on wearing the hijab had triggered protests.

At an event in Mysuru yesterday, Siddaramaiah had said women can wear the hijab if they want. The comment led to speculation that the Chief Minister had ordered to scrap the ban.

However, Siddaramaiah told reporters today the Karnataka government has not formally issued any order to allow wearing the hijab in educational institutions.

“We have not done it yet (allowing hijab). One person asked me a question, and I replied to that. Yes, the government is considering to end the ban. But the matter will be discussed with government officers first,” Siddaramaiah told reporters today.

The plan to end the hijab ban was already on the Congress’s agenda before the election in May this year, when the party defeated the BJP under former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

While Siddaramaiah has attacked the BJP over allegedly dividing people based on what they wear and caste, the BJP has called the Congress’s policy “appeasement politics”.

In the hijab case, the Supreme Court had delivered a split verdict on whether the government has the authority to make rules on what to wear. The court had said it would consider setting up a three-judge bench to take the matter forward.

“When the matter is pending in the Supreme Court, the Chief Minister does not even take that into consideration and decides to please the minorities, while eyeing the Lok Sabha election,” Mr Bommai said.

The Hijab row began in December 2021 when six girls in Udupi’s Government PU College were denied permission to wear the scarf in classrooms. It has now become another political issue ahead of the 2024 general election.