
Jaideep Ahlawat says Ranbir Kapoor may not be as big of a star as Shah Rukh Khan
Actor Jaideep Ahlawat recently found himself in a fix as he was asked a question about comparisons between the popularity of actors Ranbir Kapoor and Shah Rukh Khan. To which, the 45-year-old responded that Ranbir may not be as big of a star as Shah Rukh.Jaideep, in an interview with India Today's sister channel Lallantop, expressed he is too small of an actor to judge Ranbir and Shah Rukh. "Main bohut chota insaan hoon in sab cheezo k liye (I'm an insignificant person to talk about these things)," he said.advertisementThe actor emphasised that having popularity and stardom are two different things. He said, "Mujhe aisa manna hai ki yeh koi jaan bujhke nahi hua hoga. Popularity hona, stardom hona ek alag cheez hai, usmein abhineta bhi ho sakta hai (I don't think it was done intentionally. To have popularity and stardom is a different matter, an actor can also be part of it)."
"I feel Ranbir Kapoor kamaal ka (wonderful) actor hai, brilliant actor hai. Ho sakta hai ki woh Shah Rukh Khan jitne bade nahi ho (Maybe he won't be as big as Shah Rukh Khan)," Jaideep stated.The 'Jewel Thief' actor further said only acting did not make King Khan what he is today and attributed his success to his connection with the masses."Shah Rukh Khan ko Shah Rukh Khan banane mein sirf abhinay nahi, woh jo ek judao hai na logon ke saath, uska bohot bada haath hojata hai. Zaroori nahi ki sirf talent ke naam pe aap itne bade star hosako, ek abhinay ke talent ke naam pe (Only acting alone didn't make Shah Rukh Khan who he is today. The connection he has with people has played a big role. It's not necessary that a person becomes a big star only on the basis of talent, only on talent for acting)," he said.advertisementIn the same interview, Jaideep opened up about why he turned down Ranbir Kapoor-starrer 'Ramayana.' He said he was offered the role of Vibhishan in the film, but the timing didn't match."Offer hua tha. Par timing match nahi ho rahi thi. I think Yash kar rahe hain, 'KGF' waale. I'm sure Raavan ki dates mujh se zyada important hogi ((The role was offered to me, but the timings did not match. I think 'KGF' actor Yash is playing Raavan. I'm sure Raavan's schedule was more important than mine)," he said.Earlier this week, Jaideep confirmed joining the cast of Shah Rukh's much-anticipated film 'King.' The film also stars SRK's daughter Suhana Khan.- EndsMust Watch

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


India Gazette
5 hours ago
- India Gazette
"It's a very happy thing...", says Udit Narayan as IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla picks 'Yun Hi Chala Chal' song for Axiom 4 Mission launch day
New Delhi [India], June 26 (ANI): As Indian Air Force (IAF) Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the pilot of the Axiom Mission 4, revealed that he loves to listen to Shah Rukh Khan's 'Swades' movie song 'Yuh Hi Chala Chal', Bollywood singer Udit Narayan expressed his happiness and said that it is a moment of pride for the entire country. 'Yuh Hi Chala Chal' is a popular song from the 2004 movie Swades. The song was composed by Oscar-winner AR Rahman, and the lyrics were penned by veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar. Speaking to ANI, Narayan said, 'I want to congratulate Shubhanshu Shukla and all the other pilots for the wonderful achievement to make the entire nation ki baat ye hai ki pehli baar Shubhanshu Shukla ye gaana gaate huye aage space mein gaye very happy thing that this song is in his playlist' The vocals of the song were given by Udit Narayan, Kailash Kher and Hariharan. It is a motivational track that encourages the movie's main character (SRK) to practice perseverance and follow one's own path. The song appears in a montage sequence where Shah Rukh Khan and actor Markand Deshpande travel through the Indian countryside. He recalled how music composer AR Rahman and director Ashutosh Gowariker called him to record the song, 'I got a call from Rahman (sahab)'s office and Ashutosh Gowariker ji unhone kaha aapne 'Lagaan' film songs isme bhi gaayiye.. So the songs were recorded and the song was so beautiful. Kailash Kher and Hariharan were also part of the song but gave voice for the hero, Shah Rukh Khan..' As per the official synopsis, Swades is a movie about a NASA scientist who returns to his homeland to find the nanny who raised him, intending to bring her back to America. His journey leads him into the rural heart of India, to the village of Charanpur, and sets him on both an outward and inner quest to find where he truly belongs. On June 25, taking to their X handle, Axiom Space shared the Launch Day Playlist of the Axiom Mission 4 crew. Commander Peggy Whitson has named 'Thunder' by Imagine Dragons her go-to song. Axiom 4 mission aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft successfully docked at the International Space Station on Thursday. The Dragon spacecraft was ahead of schedule, autonomously docking at 4:05 pm (IST) to the space-facing port of the space station's Harmony module. NASA Flight Engineers Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers monitored Dragon's automated approach and docking manoeuvres. The Ax-4 crew will be welcomed by the seven-member Expedition 73 team and will now take part in a safety briefing. Former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, ESA (European Space Agency) astronauts Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary lifted off at Noon IST on June 25, on the SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. Earlier, in a live interaction from aboard the spacecraft, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, serving as the mission pilot, described the launch as 'magical' and reflected on his journey. 'I am thrilled to be here with my fellow astronauts--what a ride it was. Honestly, as I sat in the capsule 'Grace' on the launchpad yesterday after 30 days of quarantine, all I could think was: just go. When the launch finally happened, it was something else entirely. You're pushed back into the seat--and then suddenly, there's silence. You're just floating in the vacuum, and it's magical,' Shukla said. He expressed gratitude to the mission team, calling the experience a 'collective achievement.' 'I truly appreciate the efforts of every individual who made this journey possible. It's not just a personal accomplishment--it belongs to all of us,' he said. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre at noon IST on Wednesday with Shukla, Whitson, Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Kapu onboard.(ANI)


Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Not Janhvi Kapoor or Ananya Panday, Kajol feels Alia Bhatt is the most promising star of the new generation: 'She has proven herself quite a bit'
Kajol acknowledges the evolving landscape of Bollywood and praises the new generation of actors for forging their own paths. She appreciates their self-awareness and independent choices, highlighting Alia Bhatt as the most promising talent. Kajol admires Alia's versatility and consistent performances in films like Gangubai Kathiawadi, recognizing her significant impact on the industry. As Bollywood continues to evolve with a wave of fresh talent, veteran actress Kajol is taking notice. In a recent interview, the DDLJ star shared her thoughts on the generational shift in the industry, praising today's young actors for forging their own paths instead of following in the footsteps of their predecessors. Among them, she singled out Alia Bhatt as the most promising talent of the new generation—highlighting her versatility, maturity, and consistent performances over the years. In an interview with India Today, Kajol was asked if any of today's young actors remind her of herself from the 1990s. She responded candidly, saying she's glad none of them do. Clarifying that it wasn't out of arrogance, Kajol explained that each emerging actor is carving their own identity and not walking in anyone else's footsteps — which, she believes, is exactly how it should be in today's changing industry. The actress further reflected on how much the film industry has evolved over the years. She pointed out that today's generation of actors is significantly more self-aware and driven by their own choices, unlike earlier times when guidance often came from others. When asked to name a standout performer from the younger generation, she acknowledged several rising stars but reserved special praise for Alia. She noted that Alia has consistently proven her talent, setting herself apart. While she also mentioned names like Ananya Panday , Janhvi Kapoor , and Sara Ali Khan , Kajol made it clear that Alia remains the most impressive among them in her eyes. Alia has won several accolades throughout her career for Udta Punjab, Raazi, Gully Boy, and Gangubai Kathiawadi. In 2024, she was also honoured with the National Film Award for Best Actress for her powerful performance in Gangubai Kathiawadi. Expanding her global footprint, Alia made her Hollywood debut in 2023 with the action thriller Heart of Stone.


India Today
6 hours ago
- India Today
‘Umrao Jaan' re-release: A 44-year-old wine coming your way, says Muzaffar Ali
Umrao Jaan (1981) is a gift that keeps giving for filmmaker Muzaffar Ali, every day. 'Just this morning, while disembarking from the aircraft, an elderly gentleman said 'Aap Muzaffar Ali hain? Aap please humein aisi (Umrao Jaan) filmein dete rahiye (Please keep making films like Umrao Jaan),' says Ali. Adulation like that makes his June 27, Ali's classic star-crossed tale about a courtesan, featuring Rekha in an all-timer performance, re-releases in cinemas. He has also managed to put together a book on the film that he's forever synonymous an exclusive interview to INDIA TODAY, Ali shares interesting facts about the making of Umrao Jaan, curating a luxury coffee-table book celebrating the film, and the vanishing Awadhi culture.Q. Is the book as much a labour of love as the film was? A. There's no labour without love or love without labour. It was a very intense and challenging thing to do. Things get lost, people don't look after records and the mind doesn't recollect many things. The book puts everything into sharp focus—the whole ethos of the film, the time, the film has so many shades and aspects that we don't realise until one compiles it into a book. We need to look at the film in a very layered way. The book celebrates the film. It goes into the back-story, the different, subtle things which couldn't have come with the first release. It is a 44-year-old wine coming audiences' The photographs show you have maintained a good archive. What else have you preserved?A. I have got 40-50 trunks of clothing of that time, which need a proper museum. There's no space for these things in cities. Maybe, I will set up a museum of film costumes in my village. It can be an interesting experience. I hate throwing away these things. There's a lot of memory to each little Jaan is full of lovely things that people lent me, in terms of shawls, carpets, jewellery and textiles. You have to have a heart to lend it to somebody, so I was fortunate in that way.Q. The re-release strategy has really done wonders for some films. Are you excited to see the film be discovered by a whole new generation?A. I think it's a big, big experiment. I shouldn't be so scared; I am very expectant as to how people will react. It's a film that's survived many generations, and people have held it close to their hearts. It will take its own journey from here on.Q. The legendary Kathak artist Kumudini Lakhia, who choreographed the songs, passed away recently. Tell us a bit about the collaboration. She truly did make those songs more memorable with the abhinaya she made Rekha If it wasn't for her, Rekha wouldn't have had this kind of grace on screen. By the time Kathak entered Bollywood, it got jhatkas, which isn't true to the essence of the classical Kumudini behn did nobody could have done for me. She was really wonderful in the way she choreographed every single word and musical note. She gave the bhaav and movements. It is poetry in motion. In the book, I have given a tribute to Kumudini.Q. Are the locations where you shot Umrao Jaan intact or they have faded with time?A. Let's talk of the positives first. Yes, some places are intact while some have seen the surroundings degrade. Buildings have come up. Some places are just gone. Places outside of Lucknow, which were very photogenic and more spacious and easy to work in, such as Amethi, Kakori and Malihabad, are still holding on to those don't know how to take care of places. Lots of things are lost to neglect. No conservation architects as such are given these assignments. While shooting the film, we spent a lot of time in restoring places, to bring them back to their original condition. For instance, Mughal Saheba's Imambada in Lucknow. It took two to three months to restore it just so that I could shoot for a five-to-six-minute sequence. These kinds of things are no longer You are seen as a custodian and documentarian of Awadhi culture. Is it alive in Lucknow?A. Don't give me so much responsibility because I don't think I am taking it up seriously. People are aware of it and are conscious of monuments, spaces, architectures, way of life, food, and even literature to a is not getting its rightful place. It's a vast world—poetry is just one aspect of it. People have lost control and command of Urdu. It is an exemplary language for India. I don't know of any language that has bloomed so beautifully. It was born out of the need to connect. The ghazal gave it a beautiful dimension to describe the beloved and to talk with so much automotive culture has really changed the city (Lucknow). There should be a more graceful way of commuting. Until the culture of the street is respected, I don't think any city in India will be worth walking around. There are no footpaths Umrao Jaan is also that rare beast where you see leading artistes from different creative disciplines come together. Anjolie Ela Menon designed the poster; Kumudini Lakhia was the choreographer; poet Shahryar was the lyricist; and illustrator Manjula Padmanabhan did the titles. Such cross-collaboration seems to be missing from filmmaking these days.A. What happens in Bollywood is that people don't get artistes. Shahryar pulled his hair; he felt one had to be degraded to stay and work in it (Bollywood). I don't think artistes of that kind of calibre found it easy to be a part of ecosystem. Unless there's an artistic ecosystem, the concept of collective art or integrated art forms cannot is made without inspiration and respect. Cinema has become a business, and I am not a businessman. What I hate about it is that it's a business art when, in fact, it is an art of the to India Today Magazine- Ends