When Ramesh Sippy praised a young Shah Rukh Khan for his immense acting range and predicted his superstardom: ‘Out of all the actors, he has the most potential’

When asked if he believed Shah Rukh Khan had the potential to become the next Amitabh Bachchan, Ramesh Sippy offered a thoughtful and measured response.

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“Shah Rukh definitely has immense acting range. However, to compare him with Amitabh so early in his career might not be fair to both him and as well Amitabh. But as I said, he has great potential, and who said he should be the next Amitabh? He should go on to become Shah Rukh Khan, and make his name so big that people go on to say that there should be an actor like Shah Rukh Khan. And I feel he never tried to be like Amitabh Bachchan and nor does he want [to]. He just wants to improve his own work and image. People might do this comparison because this boy is simply very talented and does everything very well, whether it is a dramatic scene, romantic scene, or an emotional scene, or be it song and dance. Whatever he does, he does with great conviction, and you get lost in that moment and you start liking it.”

While Zamaana Deewana ultimately failed at the box office, Ramesh Sippy’s words turned out to be strikingly prophetic. Shah Rukh Khan went on to become one of the biggest superstars Indian cinema has ever seen, living up to, and far surpassing, the potential his director had once so clearly recognized.