Zayed Khan Reveals How Shah Rukh's Question Left Him Feeling Hurt During 'Main Hoon Na'

October 24, 2024: Main Hoon Na (2004) remains one of Bollywood’s most beloved films, with Shah Rukh Khan leading an ensemble cast that included Zayed Khan, Suniel Shetty, and Sushmita Sen. Recently, Zayed Khan shared a candid moment from his casting experience during an interview on the YouTube channel Couple of Things. He revealed how Shah Rukh Khan’s unexpected question, “Can you act?” left him feeling hurt.

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Zayed Khan’s Casting Experience Recalling the incident, Zayed shared that he was called by director Farah Khan to meet at Shah Rukh Khan’s office. He remembered, “Farah asked me to come over, and when I arrived, I tried to strike up a conversation, but she quickly said, ‘Just shut up for two minutes,’ which I found a bit rude. I was making an effort, and then Shah Rukh walked in—his usual warm, well-mannered self."

Zayed continued, "As Shah Rukh spoke, I was just listening, but then he cut straight to the point. He said, ‘Let’s skip the small talk. I just have one question: Can you act?’ I felt really bad when he asked me that. It hurt because it seemed like he doubted my ability. I responded, ‘I was born to act,’ but it wasn’t out of arrogance; I just felt bad he questioned me like that. I almost wanted to ask him back, ‘Can you act?’ After I answered, he moved on and didn’t press the question further.”

About Main Hoon Na Directed by Farah Khan and produced by Gauri Khan under Red Chillies Entertainment, Main Hoon Na was Farah’s debut as a director. The film starred Shah Rukh Khan as Major Ram Prasad Sharma, who goes undercover at a college to protect the daughter of a general from a dangerous ex-soldier. Alongside SRK, the film featured Sushmita Sen, Suniel Shetty, Amrita Rao, and Zayed Khan, with notable performances from Kirron Kher, Kabir Bedi, and others.

The film was a huge success, combining action, drama, and comedy with memorable performances and iconic songs, becoming a significant part of Bollywood’s early 2000s legacy.