Jawan dialogue writer Sumit Arora says Shah Rukh Khan is extremely agile at 57, moves like a tiger: ‘He is the Zinda Banda of Bollywood’

In an interview with Indianexpress.com, Sumit said watching the 57-year-old superstar be so agile gave him a complex as the writer realised what truly makes Shah Rukh the “Zinda Banda” of the industry, a reference to the film’s song.

“It has been such an incredible experience to watch him on the sets and enact your lines. He is so involved when he is there, he is always thinking, trying to see if it is good, takes feedback, asks you if it is working. At 57, he is more agile than me. He moves like a tiger. I was ashamed of my own fitness level, I felt like working out immediately. He is truly a Zinda Banda by his nature, the way he conducts himself, the way he treats other people. He is the Zinda Banda of the industry.”

Jawan dropped its prevue on July 10 and followed by the launch of its first track Zinda Banda 20 days later. The energetic dance number composed by Anirudh Ravichander with lyrics penned by Irshad Kamil stood out for one crucial detail– Shah Rukh beginning the song by reciting a couplet by poet Wasim Barelvi: When principles are at stake, one must fight; this battle is what makes you alive.

When the superstar had launched the song, he had also thanked Wasim Barelvi for letting the team use the couplet with a “minor change”. The couplet sprang to the world of Jawan one day when Shah Rukh expressed his desire to begin the song Zinda Banda with a poem that would embody the spirit of the track and the film.

Sumit suddenly remembered the lines of Wasim Barelvi he had heard as a teenager, which never left him after all these years. The screenwriter says he knew the poet’s words would fit in the scene of Jawan and suggested Shah Rukh the same. The superstar liked the couplet so much, Sumit says, he eventually got on a call with the poet himself requesting if they could use it.

“Shah Rukh sir wanted a poem that defines Zinda Banda. I had read this poem as a child when I had gone to a mushayara in Merut where Wasim Barelvi sahab had come. All big shots of Hindi poetry were there. I was 14-15, I didn’t even understand many things but would say ‘Waah waah.’ But I just knew what these lines meant: Usuloon par jaha aanch aaye, takrana zaroori hai; jo zinda ho, toh zinda ho toh phir zinda nazar aana zaroori hai. We were discussing what ‘Zinda Banda’ truly means, and Shah Rukh sir wanted to say something before that song kicks in.

“Suddenly, I was reminded of this couplet. I told Shah Rukh sir and he was like, ‘Ye line toh bohot achchi hai, let’s go with it.’ Then I called Wasim Barelvi sahab and he very graciously allowed us to use the line. I took Shah Rukh sir on the call with him, so he spoke to him and that’s how things fell in place. It fits in very well with the world of Jawan,” he added.

The film also features an ensemble led by Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, Priyamani, Sanya Malhotra, Ridhi Dogra and Sunil Grover among others and stars Deepika Padukone in a special appearance. Backed by Red Chillies Entertainment, Jawan is scheduled to release on September 7.