Latest news with #FridayTalkies
Indian Express
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Goli' Daya Shankar Pandey called Aamir Khan ‘in a fit of rage' for not casting him in Lagaan: ‘My wife was pregnant and…'
Director Ashutosh Gowariker's Lagaan is a landmark film, not just for the members of its cast and crew, but in the larger landscape of Indian cinema itself. Only the third – and as of 2025, the last – Indian film to clinch a nomination for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film after Mother India (1957) and Salaam Bombay! (1988), the period musical sports drama gave many of its actors, who were awaiting a big break, immense recognition. For actor Daya Shankar Pandey, too, playing the role of Goli in Lagaan proved life-changing, with a slew of opportunities coming his way since then. However, Daya was cast in the role only four days before the commencement of the movie's shooting. In fact, he recently revealed that he even lashed out at Aamir Khan over the phone for not offering him a role. At that time, his wife was pregnant and Daya badly needed a job to make ends meet. Interestingly, Daya had previously worked with Ashutosh Gowariker in both his initial directorial ventures, Pehla Nasha (1993) and Baazi (1995), among which the latter also featured Aamir in the lead. Also Read | Akshay Kumar sues Paresh Rawal for Rs 25 crore over 'gross unprofessional conduct' after his midway exit from Hera Pheri 3: report 'I knew Aamir ji beforehand, and by then I had already done two films with Ashutosh Gowariker ji, whom I consider my friend too,' he said during a chat with Friday Talkies. Daya added, 'My casting happened only four days before the film's shoot began. Although I wasn't associated with the project initially, I knew that the movie was set in a village in the countryside in the north. Hence, there was also a sense of anger coming deep from within me. In a fit of rage, I called producer Aamir Khan saab and said, 'This film is based on villagers. And if I am not cast even in such a movie, who else is going to cast me? Will directors like Yash Chopra ji and Karan Johar ji, who make movies set against the backdrop of places like Switzerland, rope me in? You say I am a very good actor; then why are you not casting me?' Hearing all this, he started laughing a lot and kept all this in his mind.' Mentioning that he was facing significant financial difficulties at that time, particularly since his wife was pregnant, Daya noted, 'I had no job then and was in a perpetual state of tension. One day, I was having dinner, and the landline phone rang. I even remember the exact date and time: December 26, 1999. When I picked up the phone, it was Aamir Khan on the other end. He asked me what I was doing these days, and I replied that I was working on one or two movies along with a few TV shows. He asked, 'Will you do Lagaan?' I immediately said yes. He told me to come to his office the next day and meet Reena ji (Aamir's then-wife, Reena Dutta). Mentioning that he had a good role for me, Aamir also informed me that the schedule would be at least 4-5 months long. I kept agreeing to whatever he said.' Recalling his meeting with Reena Dutta the following day, Daya remembered making a request to her during their discussions. He told her, 'My wife is pregnant, and the entire household runs on the money I make. So, I might need some financial help in between.' To his surprise, Reena immediately asked Daya to give her phone number to his wife and tell her to contact her if any need arose. Furthermore, Aamir Khan Productions gave him a generous paycheck right at the beginning. 'The signing amount she gave me was so huge that the expenses for one month could easily be met with that. Reena ji then informed me that I, however, won't have a makeup man or a boy (an assistant). I laughed a little, considering I don't have such helpers even today. Interestingly, I was the only actor who didn't do a workshop for Lagaan. Later, I found out that they had even kept a return ticket ready for me. If that first scene did not work out the way they envisioned, I would have been sent back quietly. But things worked out,' he added.
News18
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
SRK Was Thrown Off Bike On Swades Set, Co-Star Thought His Career Was Over
Last Updated: Swades is a critically acclaimed 2004 film directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, starring Shah Rukh Khan as an NRI scientist who returns to India in search of his roots. Back in December 2001, Shah Rukh Khan hurt his back badly while filming an action scene for Shakti: The Power. He was diagnosed with a slipped disc and, after trying many treatments, had to undergo surgery where a small disc was placed in his spine. Around this time, he was also shooting for Ashutosh Gowariker's Swades. In a recent chat with Friday Talkies, Daya Shankar Pandey, who played Mela Ram in Swades, shared a scary moment from the set that left him shaken — and it involved Shah Rukh himself. He even thought it could end his career. 'There is a scene where I ride the bike in the film with Shah Rukh Khan sitting on the back. The reality is that I am not a great rider, but Ashutosh wanted me to ride the bike. Because I didn't know how to, I suggested that I could sit in the back and SRK could ride it. Ashutosh refused and demanded that I ride it. He said, 'SRK in the film is a US return, he won't know the village, so you have to show it to him.' Ashutosh, on set, is like Hitler. I then finally told him that I haven't ridden a bike for a very long time, and he said, 'No, I know you will manage it. You have no option.'" Under pressure, Daya Shankar began practising around the village, still unsure about his ability to pull it off. But things didn't go as planned. The moment he tried to take off, panic set in. He recalled, 'You won't believe it, the bike actually went up in the air and threw SRK on the ground. I had left the bike and I was shivering in fear. I was convinced that this was end of my career. The whole environment on set changed." Making matters worse, SRK was already struggling with a serious back problem and had a physiotherapist with him at all times on set. 'This was the same time when Shah Rukh Khan was suffering from severe back pain. So much that he had a physio on set. I am looking at him but I was so scared that I couldn't even give him a hand to stand up. He then stood up, walked up to me and kept his hand on my shoulder. He quietly said, 'I knew you didn't know how to ride a bike.' He quickly turned towards Ashutosh and said, 'Ashu, lets take the shot'. Ashutosh gave me a death stare when Shah Rukh stopped him, and said, 'What are you looking at? It was my fault. I disbalanced it.'" Swades is a critically acclaimed 2004 film directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, starring Shah Rukh Khan as an NRI scientist who returns to India in search of his roots. First Published:
Pink Villa
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Shah Rukh Khan fell from bike during Swades shoot with co-star Daya Shankar Pandey but what superstar did next proves he's a true gentleman
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is one of the most celebrated actors in the industry. He is not just known for his impeccable acting skills or his huge fan base, but also for being a true gentleman. Every co-star of the actor praises him for his kindness. Now, his Swades co-star Daya Shankar Pandey revealed that he was riding a bike during a scene with SRK at the back. He shared how the superstar fell off the bike due to Daya's fault, but took the blame upon himself to save him. In a conversation with Friday Talkies, Daya Shankar Pandey shared that there was a scene in Swades where he was riding the bike and Shah Rukh Khan was sitting on the back. However, he didn't know how to ride the bike properly. Though he insisted director Ashutosh Gowariker to instead ask the superstar to ride as he hadn't ridden a bike since long, his request was declined. Daya Shankar started rehearsing the scene while King Khan was watching him. He then called Daya and asked if he could ride a bike. He lied, saying yes, and was immediately asked to give a ride to him. The Swades actor added, 'You won't believe it, the bike actually went up in the air and threw SRK on the ground. I had left the bike, and I was shivering in fear. I was convinced that this was end of my career.' He added that the set's environment changed quickly. Daya shared that SRK was already suffering from severe back pain and even had physio on set. He was staring at him but couldn't lend a helping hand to him to stand as he was too scared to do that. Talking about Shah Rukh Khan's heartwarming gesture to save Daya, he shared, 'He then stood up, walked up to me and kept his hand on my shoulder. He quietly said, 'I knew you didn't know how to ride a bike.' He quickly turned towards Ashutosh and said, 'Ashu, let's take the shot'. Ashutosh gave me a death stare when Shah Rukh stopped him and said, 'What are you looking at? It was my fault. I disbalanced it'.'
Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Shah Rukh Khan was thrown off a bike after Swades co-star crashed it; SRK took the blame to protect him from Ashutosh Gowariker
In December 2001, Shah Rukh Khan injured his back while shooting an action sequence for Krishna Vamsi's film Shakti: The Power. He was then diagnosed with prolapsed disc. After trying multiple alternative therapies, he finally opted for an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery which had a disc (the size of a small coin) inserted in his spine. Around this time, he was also shooting for Ashutosh Gowarikar's Swades. In a recent interview, SRK's Swades co-actor Daya Shankar Panday recalled a near-fatal accident that involved the star and convinced Daya that his career was over. Talking to Friday Talkies, Daya Shankar shared, 'There is a scene where I ride the bike in the film with Shah Rukh Khan sitting on the back. The reality is that I am not a great rider, but Ashutosh wanted me to ride the bike. Because I didn't know how to, I suggested that I could sit in the back and SRK could ride it. Ashutosh refused and demanded that I ride it. He said, 'SRK in the film is a US return, he won't know the village, so you have to show it to him.' Ashutosh, on set, is like Hitler. I then finally told him that I haven't ridden a bike for a very long time, and he said, 'No, I know you will manage it. You have no option.'' After the argument, Daya Shankar was preparing for the scene and practicing by riding through the village streets. 'SRK, who was sitting right there, watched me and I don't know whether it was evident on my face or it was just a random thought, he called me by my character's name and asked, 'Mela Ram, will you be able to ride?' I said, 'Yes'. He then asked me to give him a ride' ALSO READ | This Amitabh Bachchan fan moved to Mumbai after watching Trishul, eventually sold his Rs 50 crore bungalow to the star A nervous Daya Shankar pressed the clutch, put the bike in first gear, and accelerated. 'You won't believe it, the bike actually went up in the air and threw SRK on the ground. I had left the bike and I was shivering in fear. I was convinced that this was end of my career. The whole environment on set changed.' He recalled, 'This was the same time when Shah Rukh Khan was suffering from severe back pain. So much that he had a physio on set. I am looking at him but I was so scared that I couldn't even give him a hand to stand up. He then stood up, walked up to me and kept his hand on my shoulder. He quietly said, 'I knew you didn't know how to ride a bike.' He quickly turned towards Ashutosh and said, 'Ashu, lets take the shot'. Ashutosh gave me a death stare when Shah Rukh stopped him, and said, 'What are you looking at? It was my fault. I disbalanced it.''
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Shah Rukh Khan used to drive me to the set,' recalls Veerendra Saxena: ‘He was a well-behaved boy'
Everyone has a story about working with Shah Rukh Khan. In a recent interview, actor Veerendra Saxena, who shared screen space with SRK in Dil Dariya and Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, spoke about their time together before Shah Rukh became the biggest star in the country. Veerendra first worked with Shah Rukh Khan in the show Dil Dariya, where he played the actor's father. During an appearance on the Friday Talkies podcast, he recalled their time together and said he considered Shah Rukh like a son. He said, 'You could say that Shah Rukh mere ghar ke bacche ki tarah tha (he was like my own kid). His first role was alongside me, Dil Dariya, in which I played the role of his father. He was a well-behaved boy, and he used to pick me up from my house while on his way to the set.' The actor added that even Hema Malini was a big fan of the show and used to watch it with Dharmendra. ALSO READ | 'Shah Rukh Khan handed the keys to his Pajero as soon as I asked,' recalls Tiku Talsania: 'He won't hesitate to do anything for you' Veerendra Saxena also shared how the young Shah Rukh Khan took care of him during their shoot in Goa. 'I went to Goa for the first time, and I had no idea that Shah Rukh had gotten married until he introduced me to Gauri there. I congratulated him and started to leave because the bus for all the actors was leaving. He stopped me and said, 'Your scenes are with me. What will you do on the set right now? He offered me to go with him later in the car that was supposed to pick him up.' The actor added that SRK even recommended dishes and drinks for him to try while waiting. 'He told the director I would be coming with him, then asked me to visit a nearby restaurant to try the fish and local alcohol,' Saxena recalled. He concluded his anecdote by saying that although they don't meet or talk often, Shah Rukh still holds him in great respect, and he is proud to see all that Shah Rukh has achieved.
