Sanjay Leela Bhansali Says Today`s Actors Can`t Do What Shah Rukh Khan Did In Devdas

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MAY 21,2024

Think of phenomenal cinema and mesmerizing content think Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The filmmaker will transport you to another era with his masterful storytelling skills. Be it in movies like Devdas or his latest saga, Heeramandi: The Diamond Baazar, his cinematic magic will always leave you in awe.

The director, who is currently soaring high on the success of his web series debut, is all over the news with Heeramandi and its historic story that made waves on Netflix.

While the series featured many new faces, as per Sanjay Leela Bhansali, his all-time favorite act will be that of Shah Rukh Khan in Devdas. In a recent interview, he said nobody from today's lot can recreate what the actor did back in the day.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali on Shah Rukh Khan's performance in Devdas

The 2002 release was based on a 1917 novel of the same name by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. The film received widespread acclaim and put the director on the global map.

Devdas was headlined by Aishwarya Rai, Shah Rukh Khan, and Madhuri Dixit. It also saw Jackie Shroff and Kirron Kher in prominent roles.

Bhansali recently sat down with Bollywood Hungama and recalled his lead actor's performance in Devdas, thus crediting him for an exceptional display of acting. In the same interview, he said today's actors cannot pull off what SRK did in the film.

Also Read: Taking a Look at The Glorious Women Of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Cinema



When asked about the ever-evolving process of cinema, Bhansali said, 'I think the cinema has changed techniques have changed. Now a director looks at cinema differently. The scriptwriters are writing differently and sketching varied and unusual roles. It is a great time for Indian cinema. Today, great films are being made, and wonderful work is being done.'

Also Read: Aditi Rao Hydari Recalls Making Of Her Viral Gaja Gamini Walk In Heeramandi

'The sur (tone) and the note at which Devdas was being performed were high-pitched and operatic. It was difficult to perform. In those days, directors demanded actors be that way, but today, they ask actors to underplay and be subtle, which is also nice," he further added.

Crediting the entire cast of Devdas, Sanjay Leela Bhansali continued, "What Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit, and Kirron Kher did in Devdas are notes and sur that today's actors may not be able to deliver because they were a little unreal and demanded a deeper understanding of the acting techniques that Shah Rukh handled with brilliance."

On the work front

Currently, Sanjay Leela Bhansali is busy soaking up the massive success of his recent release, Heeramandi: The Diamond Baazar. The Netflix web series revolves around the infamous red-light area of Lahore, where courtesans were once dominating queens.


It features a stellar cast of artists, including Manisha Koirala, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, and Sharmin Sehgal, among others.

Bhansali's magnum opus also narrates the courtesans relationships with nawabs and their contribution to independence from Biritish rule. Heeramandi is now streaming on Netflix.

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