Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, renowned as one of the biggest stars in the world, has an impressive repertoire of successful movies in Bollywood. With a massive fan following spanning the entire globe, he never fails to surprise his fans. However, little do people know that Shah Rukh’s journey in the industry wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Hema Malini.
It was Hema Malini, the veteran actress and director, who introduced Shah Rukh Khan to Bollywood. In an exclusive interview with Lehren TV , Hema Malini shared, ‘For my directorial debut film in Bollywood, Dil Aashna Hai, I was in search of a fresh face. At that time, I used to watch Fauji, and while my film’s script was being prepared, I wanted someone new for a particular character. We decided that something fresh should be brought in.’
She continued, ‘I thought this boy (referring to Shah Rukh Khan) had a unique freshness about him, and I wanted him in my film. Then, my sister contacted him, he came, met Dharam Ji (Dharmendra), and that’s how it all started.’
Interestingly, although Dil Aashna Hai was Shah Rukh’s first film, Deewana was released earlier. Both movies featured Divya Bharti in the lead role. However, it was the opportunity given by Hema Malini that paved the way for Shah Rukh Khan’s remarkable journey in Bollywood.
The collaboration between Hema Malini and Shah Rukh Khan marked the beginning of a stellar career for the talented actor.