Mahesh: SRK treated me with respect despite 2 flops

Shah Rukh Khan has plenty to celebrate today on November 2. It's his 58th birthday, his life's biggest hit

Jawan

is heading to OTT with a Netflix deal, his next film

Dunki

has dropped a new teaser and his good friend Salman Khan's Tiger 3, where SRK will reprise his role as

Pathaan

is also just around the corner. On this momentous occasion, one of SRK's great admirers and his director of films '

Chaahat

' (1996) and '

Duplicate

' (1998),

Mahesh Bhatt

speaks to ETimes on everything that makes King Khan special.

In his own, inimitable words...

'Shah Rukh has the grace of a panther, wisdom of a sage'

Shah Rukh is a true miracle, he thrives like a blossoming orchard in an industry that often disguises itself as art. Each milestone he achieves defies the norm, illustrating his unwavering spirit vividly. Collaborating with Shah Rukh meant embracing the spontaneity of his pursuit of perfection, as he elegantly navigated challenges with the grace of a panther and the wisdom of a sage. His wisdom on finding humour in life’s shadows, not taking ourselves too seriously, and embracing life’s transience deeply resonates with one and all.

'SRK taught me that genuine relationships withstand the trials of failure'

In the grand scheme, our deeds often leave a fleeting mark, and our time here is ephemeral. In the film industry, I hold the distinction of being the only director with two flops alongside Shah Rukh Khan. Despite this, Shah Rukh treated me with unwavering respect, even though my contribution meant nothing for his career trajectory. Typically, stars distance themselves from directors associated with failure, treating them like outcasts. However, Shah Rukh’s warmth and affection remained steadfast, unaffected by the box office performance. I learned from him that genuine relationships withstand the trials of failure, in this failure abhorring, success worshiping industry. People like him are a rarity in this industry. He truly is one of a kind. He is a King at heart.

Even though Mahesh Bhatt and SRK haven't collaborated again after the 90s, the latter's daughter, Alia Bhatt has been a frequent associate of Shah Rukh. Their movies 'Dear Zindagi' and 'Brahmastra' have been popular hits and she's also made a special appearance in SRK' 2018 release 'Zero'.