Don’t want to work with Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan anymore, says Nikkhil Advani: ‘Can’t make a Rs 800 cr film’

Nikkhil Advani said that he can't make a film with the likes of Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan anymore because their fans expect them to make Rs 600-800 cr blockbusters.

By: Entertainment Desk

New Delhi | February 13, 2025 10:08 AM IST

3 min read

Nikkhil Advani has made films like Kal Ho Naa Ho and Salmaan-E-Ishq with Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan respectively.

Director Nikkhil Advani has made many films with Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar, but in a recent interview, the director said that he doesn’t know how to make a film with superstars anymore. Nikkhil said that the fans of these stars expect huge box office numbers and he cannot work under such pressure. He added that he can produce a film with them in it, but does not want to direct them.

In a chat with Lehren Retro, when asked about making another film with Salman after Salaam-E-Ishq and Hero, the director said, “I don’t want to make a film with Salman.” He added that he considers himself “very lucky” that he can choose people he wants to work with. “I tell everyone, John, Akshay… that I don’t know how to make a film that makes Rs 600-800 crore.”

He added that actors like Shah Rukh, Salman, Akshay and Ajay Devgn “have become so big that it is unheard for them not to satisfy their fan base without those numbers. They have to hit those numbers.” He shared that he still catches up with Akshay over the phone early in the morning and he often sends scripts to the actor, which he feels will work for him, but he refuses to direct him. “Yes, I will produce for them but I don’t wish to direct. I can’t. Even if I have the will of doing it, I can’t,” he said.

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When asked if he had ever shared a script with Shah Rukh Khan, since they had a great working relationship during Kal Ho Naa Ho, Nikkhil said that he still doesn’t have a subject for Shah Rukh. “I don’t have a subject for him and I will never go to him with a subject unless I think it is going to beat Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhie Khushi Kabhi Gham and Kal Ho Naa Ho. As long as I can bring value to the relationship that we had, I won’t go to him,” he said.

Nikkhil Advani recently directed SonyLIV’s Freedom at Midnight.

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