Shah Rukh Khan, worth $1.4 bn, would say ‘kahan hai mere pass itna paisa’, recalls producer: ‘He worked hard, did ads, danced at weddings’ 

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Before Shah Rukh Khan came on board, Salman Khan was offered this film as well. Prior to this, he had become a star with his film Maine Pyar Kiya, and here, he was being offered a negative role. Ratan recalled how Salim Khan discouraged hilm from making this film altogether. “Salim saab told me that Salman won’t do it and he told me, ‘Don’t make this film. These kinds of films don’t work’,” he shared.

He recalled that during one of the films they were making together, SRK urgently needed some money as he was trying to buy a house. At this time, he asked Ratan if he could borrow some money, and the producer happily obliged. Ratan recalled that Shah Rukh remembered this gesture and repaid it as well. “When it was time for his final payment, he reduced the fee by Rs 4 lakh. He said, ‘Because you gave me money when I wanted it’,” he said.

He recalled their work in Yes Boss as well, where SRK famously shot the song ‘Bas Itna Sa Khwab Hai’ in front of his current mansion Mannat, which was then a probable dream for him. Ratan shared that this was a tricky role, but Shah Rukh was up for it. “He said, ‘Let people say I have played a pi*p. At one point, he realises what he has done is not good’,” he recalled.

Ratan shared that they last worked together in Main Hoon Na, which was SRK’s first film under his own Red Chillies Entertainment banner. Here, he joined hands with Ratan Jain, and collaborated with him as a co-producer. “We were 50-50 partners on Main Hoon Na. It was completely Shah Rukh’s idea. He brought the whole project together. We were very close, he trusted me and he called me,” he said.

The Main Hoon Na co-producer was also asked about SRK’s recent billionaire status and he said that SRK, to this day, continues to say that he doesn’t have much money. “Even today, when I speak to him, I tell him, ‘You have so much money’ and he says ‘Kahan hai paisa, mere pass itna paisa nahi hai jitna aap sochte hai. (No sir, I don’t have so much money. I don’t have the sort of money you think)’,” he shared with a smile. He added, “He has worked hard for it. He has done so many ads, programmes, weddings. He would say, ‘If I go and it makes people happy, and makes me some money, what problem do I have with it?’”

As per the Hurun list, Shah Rukh is worth Rs 12,490 crore (approx $1.4 billion), which makes him the first celeb billionaire from the film industry. It also puts him in the same bracket as as Rihanna and Tiger Woods (both are worth $1.4 billion), and among the richest stars in the world.