‘Shah Rukh Khan drank chaas from the village without any hesitation': Makrand Deshpande recalls shooting Swades song, how he made SRK do ‘all the work'
Speaking to Cyrus Broacha about the same, he said, '13 years before we worked together in Swades, we starred in the television series called Circus. Me, Shah Rukh and Ashutosh Gowariker starred in the show. The first time that I met him was at a producer's office for the show. I was playing cricket in the compound of the building and I threw the ball so hard that Shah Rukh Khan thought 'ye pagal aadmi hai (He is mad).' Shah Rukh used to carry a camera and I realised he clicked so many of my photos. We developed a camaraderie during those days.'
Makarand met Shah Rukh 13 years later during the making of Swades. By then, Shah Rukh had become the biggest star in Bollywood, but Makarand said his humility and kindness remained unchanged. 'But the point was after 13 years Swades happened and I wasn't in touch with him. By that time Shah Rukh had already become the Badshah of Bollywood and Ashutosh Gowariker had directed the iconic film Lagaan, but 'where is this Makarand Deshpande coming from?' I came from theatre, I did a lot in theatre for those 13 years. And it was like three people coming from three different worlds.'
Makarand recalled Ashutosh taking him to Shah Rukh's vanity van and was surprised by how much the superstar knew about his body of work. 'The best thing that Shah Rukh said was, 'You had made a film Danav na?' I had made that one film and I was so pleasantly happy because he knew a lot about what I had done in those 13 years, so it didn't matter that we didn't meet for so many years.'
Makarand also recalled another instance of Shah Rukh's generosity. He shared how he needed a close-up shot of the superstar for his small film Shahrukh Bola Khoobsurat Hai Tu, and Shah Rukh readily agreed—without charging anything. Makarand remembered their conversation and said, 'He told me, 'You don't need to spend money, just send your camera man and I will get unit. Then we also used his car.'
He also recalled the Swades cameo where he featured in 'Yu Hi Chala Chal' with Shah Rukh. Makarand recalled that Shah Rukh did all the heavy lifting in the song — from driving the trailer to coordinating with the director. 'Saari mehnat uski thi, he had to drive the caravan, talking on walkie-talkie, coordination… I told him you will do everything. I liked that despite being the big star… he (did everything). I would ask for buttermilk from the village, I offered it to him and usne bina kis jhijak ke pee liya (he drank without any hesitation),' he recalled.
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Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
'Shah Rukh Khan drank village chaas without hesitation,' says Makarand Deshpande as recalls Swades shoot and SRK's generosity
Makarand Deshpande has always been an intense actor and recently opened up about the movie which he did with Shah Rukh Khan , Ashutosh Gowariker's 'Swades'. He recalled some behind-the-scenes incidents which made it very memorable for him in particular. Deshpande reflected on SRK's humility, creative involvement, and the emotional warmth that defined their reunion after 13 years. SRK's grounded gesture: He drank chaas without hesitation Deshpande reminisced while appearing on the Cyrus Says podcast when offered super star SRK a glass of buttermilk freshly fetched from a local village during the shooting of Yun Hi Chala Chal. SRK, despite being a star, would not refuse such an offering, and that was the moment when Deshpande truly believed to capture his down-to-earth nature. As said in the interview, SRK drank it 'bina kisi jhijak ke,' without flinching or fuss. Shah Rukh Khan took charge behind the scenes During the filming of the road-trip song, Deshpande described how SRK took on multiple responsibilities—driving the caravan, coordinating with the crew via walkie-talkie, and even helping choreograph moments. Deshpande jokingly called himself the 'brat' on set, enjoying the ride while SRK handled the logistics. He added that the idea for his hair movement during Kailash Kher's alaap came directly from SRK, who was invested in even the smallest creative details. A reunion after 13 years—and SRK remembered everything As reported by Indian Express, Deshpande was surprised by how much SRK remembered about his theatre work and indie film 'Danav,' despite not being in touch for over a decade. The actor said it felt like three people from different worlds, him from theatre, SRK from superstardom, and Gowariker fresh off 'Lagaan' coming together in harmony. SRK's cameo for Deshpande's indie film came with no price Deshpande also shared that when he requested SRK to appear in a close-up for his indie film 'Shahrukh Bola Khoobsurat Hai Tu,' the actor did not charge a fee. Instead, SRK told him to send his cameraman and offered his own car and camera for the shoot. As said in the podcast, SRK told him, 'You don't need to spend money. Just send your cameraman, I'll get the unit.'
Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
‘Shah Rukh Khan drank chaas from the village without any hesitation': Makrand Deshpande recalls shooting Swades song, how he made SRK do ‘all the work'
Actor Makarand Deshpande, who had worked with Shah Rukh Khan in the TV show Circus, witnessed the actor's rise to superstardom and reunited with him 13 years later in Ashutosh Gowariker's Swades. In a recent interaction, Makarand heaped praise on Shah Rukh's generosity and recalled how the superstar had kept track of his work and knew about many of the projects he had done over the years, even though they hadn't met in over a decade. Speaking to Cyrus Broacha about the same, he said, '13 years before we worked together in Swades, we starred in the television series called Circus. Me, Shah Rukh and Ashutosh Gowariker starred in the show. The first time that I met him was at a producer's office for the show. I was playing cricket in the compound of the building and I threw the ball so hard that Shah Rukh Khan thought 'ye pagal aadmi hai (He is mad).' Shah Rukh used to carry a camera and I realised he clicked so many of my photos. We developed a camaraderie during those days.' Makarand met Shah Rukh 13 years later during the making of Swades. By then, Shah Rukh had become the biggest star in Bollywood, but Makarand said his humility and kindness remained unchanged. 'But the point was after 13 years Swades happened and I wasn't in touch with him. By that time Shah Rukh had already become the Badshah of Bollywood and Ashutosh Gowariker had directed the iconic film Lagaan, but 'where is this Makarand Deshpande coming from?' I came from theatre, I did a lot in theatre for those 13 years. And it was like three people coming from three different worlds.' Makarand recalled Ashutosh taking him to Shah Rukh's vanity van and was surprised by how much the superstar knew about his body of work. 'The best thing that Shah Rukh said was, 'You had made a film Danav na?' I had made that one film and I was so pleasantly happy because he knew a lot about what I had done in those 13 years, so it didn't matter that we didn't meet for so many years.' Makarand also recalled another instance of Shah Rukh's generosity. He shared how he needed a close-up shot of the superstar for his small film Shahrukh Bola Khoobsurat Hai Tu, and Shah Rukh readily agreed—without charging anything. Makarand remembered their conversation and said, 'He told me, 'You don't need to spend money, just send your camera man and I will get unit. Then we also used his car.' He also recalled the Swades cameo where he featured in 'Yu Hi Chala Chal' with Shah Rukh. Makarand recalled that Shah Rukh did all the heavy lifting in the song — from driving the trailer to coordinating with the director. 'Saari mehnat uski thi, he had to drive the caravan, talking on walkie-talkie, coordination… I told him you will do everything. I liked that despite being the big star… he (did everything). I would ask for buttermilk from the village, I offered it to him and usne bina kis jhijak ke pee liya (he drank without any hesitation),' he recalled.
News18
3 days ago
- News18
Makrand Deshpande On Jaan Abhi Baaki Hai: 'The Film Doesn't Try To Impress, It Wants...'
Last Updated: Makrand Deshpande opens up about his role in Jaan Abhi Baaki Hai, praising its honesty, emotional depth, and message of truth and resistance. Releases Aug 1. Veteran actor, playwright, and director Makrand Deshpande—known for his versatile performances in acclaimed films such as Swades, Satya, Makdee, Malang, and RRR—is set to appear in the upcoming emotional drama Jaan Abhi Baaki Hai, slated for release on August 1. Directed by Satyajeet and produced by IJM Productions, the film explores love, family, and the bittersweet ache of nostalgia through the eyes of small-town India. Speaking about what drew him to the project, Deshpande shared that it was the 'honesty" of Satyajeet—both as a writer and a director—that moved him. 'That alone was enough to convince me to be part of the project," he said. 'There was something raw and real in the way the story was told. It didn't try to impress; it simply wanted to be heard. And that sincerity was refreshing." Known for his grounded performances, Deshpande revealed that his preparation for the film didn't involve any elaborate process. 'I didn't do anything specific. My approach is always rooted in honesty and truthfulness. I don't believe in layering performances unnecessarily—if you trust the moment, the moment takes care of you," he said. 'And in this film, every scene had its own pulse, its own truth to respond to." One particular moment that left a lasting impression on the actor was a scene involving the Indian national flag. 'That moment, holding the national flag of our country while being filmed, really stood out," Deshpande recalled. 'There was a deep emotional undercurrent that I hadn't anticipated. It stayed with me long after the scene was done." The actor also praised the film's cast and the sheer audacity of its vision. 'The young cast really impressed me—they actually fit the age group they were playing, which rarely happens. I also admire the fact that someone from outside the industry took on the challenge of making this film. It takes a lot of heart and fearlessness to do that," he said. He added that the trailer carried 'scale, energy, and conviction," and that he 'absolutely loves the title of the film." But what does Deshpande hope audiences take away from Jaan Abhi Baaki Hai? 'It's the resistance for truth that I want the audience to feel," he said. 'In today's times, standing up for what's right isn't easy—but it's necessary. If the film can ignite even a small spark of that courage in someone, I believe we've done our job." Jaan Abhi Baaki Hai features a talented ensemble including Pranjal Shandilya, Swapnil Singh, Brijendra Kala, Rajesh Jais, Rohit Pathak, Ashok Kumar Beniwal, and the late Bikramjeet Kanwarpal. With its heartfelt storytelling, grounded performances, and emotional honesty, the film promises to be a poignant exploration of identity, love, and the quiet resistance found in everyday life. First Published: July 20, 2025, 19:51 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
