Shah Rukh Khan’s onscreen father on his first show says actor shows same respect to him: ‘He said you won’t go in a bus, but in my car’

Veerendra also recalled how Hema Malini approached him through an intermediary to get in touch with Shah Rukh for the lead role in her directorial project, Dil Aashna Hai. By this time, Shah Rukh’s other TV show, Fauji, was already airing, while the shooting for Dil Dariya was still underway. Hema decided to cast Shah Rukh in Dil Aashna Hai after watching his performance in Fauji.

Speaking further about his experience of working with Shah Rukh in Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, Veerendra said, “I had worked so much with him by the time we started this film. He was like a kid to me. I recall we were shooting in Goa, and this was my first time in the city. We all stayed in a very small hotel, and it was there that Shah Rukh introduced me to Gauri Khan. I was surprised because I didn’t know that he had married.”

Veerendra recounted that after meeting Gauri, the bus meant to take the cast and crew to the set arrived, and everyone had to board it. However, Shah Rukh asked Veerendra to skip the bus and travel with him later in his car since they only had scenes together and could head to the set more comfortably. “He told me, ‘Why are you going right now? Our scene is at 6 in the evening. My car will come. We will go at that time.’ Shah Rukh even spoke to the film’s director, Kundan Shah, about it. He also recommended that I try some fish in Goa.”

He added, “Ab Shah Rukh bada aadmi hai (Now Shah Rukh is a superstar), but the good thing is that he still has that respect for me. Whenever we meet, we exchange greetings, but I have never disturbed him. Those who make it big sometimes think we expect something from them if we talk to them too much. So, whenever we meet, we exchange pleasantries, but I have never disturbed him.”