Before Abhishek Bachchan ever faced a camera, he asked Shah Rukh Khan a question that most fans would understand instantly: of all the films he had made, which one was his favourite? The answer, Abhishek recalled on BBC Asian Network, was not a nostalgic pick. It was a working rule.
‘My favourite film is the film I am doing right now,’ Shah Rukh told him. If that is not his favourite film, he explained, then why is he doing it? The past is the past. The lesson has stayed with Abhishek and still shapes the way he thinks about a project.
An ‘elder brother’ and a lasting rule
Abhishek remembered the Sundays spent playing cricket at Aditya Chopra’s house, where Uday Chopra, Hrithik Roshan, Sikandar Kher and Shah Rukh would gather. In that circle, Shah Rukh was an ‘elder brother’ as much as a superstar. Hrithik Roshan later liked the clip, a small nod to that old group.
The friendship did not stop at the cricket field. Abhishek said Shah Rukh has continued to back him through his career and has ‘literally taken personal responsibility several times now, including in King as well.’
Why King makes the memory timely
The anecdote resurfaces as Shah Rukh prepares for King, where his own advice is on display. The film he is doing now has to be his favourite, and for now that is King.
The action thriller is directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Gauri Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment along with Siddharth and Mamta Anand’s Marflix Pictures. It pairs Shah Rukh’s veteran assassin with Suhana Khan’s young protege, marking Suhana’s theatrical debut.
The film at a glance:
- Director: Siddharth Anand
- Billed cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Suhana Khan, Deepika Padukone, Rani Mukerji, Abhay Verma, Jaideep Ahlawat and Arshad Warsi
- Backers: Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures
- Worldwide release: December 24, 2026
Reports have also suggested that Kareena Kapoor Khan could reunite with Shah Rukh for a dance number in the film, though that has not been confirmed.
What the advice means for fans
For Hindi cinema fans, the story is a reminder of how the industry’s generational bonds work. A line shared before a debut can become an internal logic that a younger actor carries for decades, and a present-tense rule can explain why a star keeps moving forward instead of living in past hits.
The rule is portable, too. If you cannot call today’s project your favourite, the framework suggests you either reshape it or ask why you are doing it. That clarity is useful far beyond a film set.
Abhishek was last seen in the ZEE5 film Kaalidhar Laapata, directed by Madhumita. King, meanwhile, takes one of the biggest holiday slots of 2026.
Source: bollywoodHungama.com