Dear Zindagi Director Reveals Why She Wanted Shah Rukh Khan to Play Therapist

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NOVEMBER 29,2023

Dear Zindagi was released back in 2016 and normalized conversations around mental health. It told the story of Kaira, played by Alia Bhatt, who seeks the professional help of therapist Dr. Jehangir Khan, played by Shah Rukh Khan, who helps her seek answers to some trickling questions that haunt her.

The director of Dear Zindagi, Gauri Shinde, shared why she wanted Shah Rukh Khan to play the role of therapist. She initially went to Shah Rukh Khan with just 4-5 lines from the script.

She said, "I mean, I had a script ready anyway, but I narrated it to him, and he said, 'Okay, what do I have to do?' And that was it. He got it." While playing the character, Shah Rukh Khan had his own inputs that enriched the role further.

She further added that the charming quality of SRK was how she imagined the role of Jehangir. She added, "I can't think of anyone else who could have played Dr. Jehangir Khan. Because of Shah Rukh Khan, people have taken therapy more seriously. Because I needed a mainstream actor and a star apart from being awesome and a great actor. You want to listen to him."

Also read: Just In! Alia Bhatt Wasn't The First Choice For Dear Zindagi. Guess Which Actress Did She Replace?

SRK was the first person he approached for the role, and he readily agreed to do it. She also opened up about how important it was for someone like him to play the role and normalize mental health.

She said, "When he says words, you want to listen. So apart from those qualities that he has, that star quality was very essential for this film so that more people watch, it's more accessible, and this idea of therapy and mental health gets through."

Even when it came to Alia Bhatt in the film, Gauri revealed how Alia didn't care much about how she looked in the film. She just let herself be. Gauri was so impressed with her qualities as an actor that she didn't even look much in the mirror to see how she was looking.

On the work front, Gauri Shinde's last release as a producer was the 2022 film Chup: Revenge of an Artist. She is well-known for her 2012 film English Vinglish, starring Sridevi, that won everyone's hearts.

Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan is gearing up for the release of Dunki on December 21. It is directed by Rajkumar Hirani and also stars Taapsee Pannu and Vicky Kaushal in important roles.

Read further: Exceptional Bollywood Movies Made By Female Directors

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