Revisiting SRK, Karan Johar’s tryst with underworld: ‘Will take bullet for you, said Shah Rukh Khan

Dawood Ibrahim, Abu Salem, and their Bollywood connections created a huge storm in India during the 90s. Many celebrities who refused to work on orders were threatened or even reportedly gunned down or a few faced slack in their career. That is why most of the celebrities gave royal treatment to every call and approach from Dubai’s Don.

However, there were a few like Shah Rukh Khan who did not give in to such threats and continued to work professionally on their terms.

When the underworld threatened SRK

The 90s was the time when Shah Rukh was ruling Bollywood supremely. He had also turned into a producer and within a few years had become one of the richest Bollywood actors. It was also the time when the underworld had gained a major foothold in Bollywood with the gangsters using movie ventures as a means to convert black money into white.

To make sure that their gimmick and investment paid off, the gangsters threatened or forced Bollywood celebrities to work on their projects. Talking about the same the Pathaan actor in his earlier interview said, “They would set up a system, and they would say you do it. I may not have succumbed to it, but then they shoot you. So, sometimes it’s nice to do a film.”

Anupama Chopra, the famous film critic in her book “King Of Bollywood: Shah Rukh Khan and the Seductive World of Indian Cinema” mentions that SRK was getting threatening phone calls from underworld Don Abu Salem as the actor was not doing as told. Revealing his experience of how it affected him, SRK said, “He would tell me that he could see me. It was like living under a telescope. It was very depressing and very scary.” He added that he would hole up inside his house and was scared.

Finally, the actor gathered enough courage and cleverly told Salem, “I don’t tell you who to shoot so don’t tell me which film to do.”

When Karan Johar refused to attend the premiere of his first movie

During one of his interviews, Karan Johar also shared his tryst with the underworld. It was when he was working on Kuch Kuch Hota Hai-his first directorial debut. He had received similar threats from the underworld ahead of the premiere of his debut movie and hence was too scared to attend the screening.

At that time, SRK requested Karan to take a stand and even promised Karan that he would never leave his side. Karan recalled how the Jawan actor brought him out. Shah Rukh Khan had said to Karan, “I” 'll take the bullet for you, you just stand here.” That is when Karan realised that this bond was going to stay a lifetime.

In his autobiography, Karan penned, “He said, ‘ ‘I’m standing here in front of you. Let’s see who shoots you. I’m standing right here.’ He even told my mother, ‘Nothing’s gonna happen. I’m a Pathan. Nothing can happen to me and nothing will happen to your son. He’s like my brother. Nothing’s gonna happen’.”