Director Anand L Rai Talks About Working With Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar
In a recent interview with Mukesh Chhabra on Mashable India, renowned Bollywood director Anand L Rai shared some interesting insights into the personalities of Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar. Having worked with both superstars, Rai gave fans a sneak peek into their off-screen lives, especially highlighting Shah Rukh Khan’s love for certain foods and Akshay Kumar’s unique way of processing things.
Shah Rukh Khan’s Favorite Foods: Tandoori Chicken, Coffee, and More
During the interview, Anand L Rai revealed that Shah Rukh Khan has a special love for three things—tandoori chicken, coffee, and a drink. Rai shared a light-hearted story from the sets of Zero about how he and Shah Rukh would often discuss what to eat after wrapping up their day’s shoot. He said, “If you give Shah Rukh tandoori chicken, coffee, or any drink, he can survive on them forever.”
Anand also emphasized how much Shah Rukh appreciates when someone offers him food with love. According to Rai, Shah Rukh isn’t too fussy about what he eats as long as it’s given to him with affection, making him even more endearing in the eyes of his fans.
Akshay Kumar’s Playful and Focused Personality
Switching to Akshay Kumar, Anand L Rai described him as a highly focused and hardworking individual. He shared that while Akshay is incredibly sensitive, he prefers to hide that side of his personality. “Akshay doesn’t like to take things in a simple manner; he enjoys some spice in everything he does,” said Rai. He further added that despite his superstardom, Akshay has stayed grounded and hasn’t forgotten his core values.
The director praised Akshay’s work ethic, attributing his success to his dedication and focus. Even when dealing with intense projects, Akshay maintains his sense of fun and enjoyment, always making the most of every moment on set.
Anand’s Memories From the Sets of ‘Zero’
When asked about his experience working with Shah Rukh on Zero, Anand Rai recounted a funny memory. Mukesh Chhabra showed him a picture from the set, and Rai humorously mentioned that while it might look like they were having a serious conversation, they were actually discussing their dinner plans for the evening.
Released in 2018, Zero did not perform well at the box office, despite featuring big stars like Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma. The film’s underwhelming performance led Shah Rukh to take a break from movies, only to return with a bang in 2023 with hits like Pathan and Jawaan.
Akshay Kumar’s Recent Films With Anand L Rai
Talking about Akshay, Rai mentioned his experiences directing him in films like Atrangi Re and Raksha Bandhan. While Atrangi Re didn’t leave a lasting impact at the box office, Raksha Bandhan managed to become a semi-hit.
