Image Source: Express Archive
When Shah Rukh Khan, now 58, watched Dilip Kumar’s classic *Devdas* with his parents—ardent fans of the legendary actor—he could never have anticipated that he would one day portray the same iconic character himself. This week, Khan was honored with the prestigious Pardo alla Carriera award at the 77th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, marking him as the first Indian to receive this accolade. During the festival, he also introduced *Devdas*, the 2002 epic directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, which starred Khan alongside Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit Nene, and Jackie Shroff.
In a masterclass session at the festival, Khan revealed that his production company, Red Chillies Entertainment, has acquired the rights to this opulent film. He expressed immense pride in this achievement, reflecting on the film’s legacy and the challenges of bringing such a grand story to life. Khan noted that by the time he joined the project, there had already been numerous adaptations of the *Devdas* novel, adding significant pressure to create a fresh and compelling version.
Despite initial skepticism from peers and a cultural shift towards more modern, light-hearted films in India, Khan was determined to undertake the role. He described the production as arduous, marred by financial difficulties and delays. Khan shared how the film’s extravagant scale required extensive resources, including 90 generators to light the sets, and spoke about the difficulties of wearing traditional costumes like the dhoti-kurta, which he found cumbersome.
Khan praised his co-stars and the film’s grandeur, describing *Devdas* as a “modern-day masterpiece” that has attained cult status. He highlighted its dramatic, theatrical nature and its significant contribution to defining Indian cinema with its opulence and elaborate dance sequences.
