“I didn’t look like Swiss chocolate,” says Shah Rukh Khan recalling how a director told him he was ‘ugly’ to be a hero |

Shah Rukh Khanoften celebrated as the King of Romance in Bollywoodis a name synonymous with charm, charisma, and unparalleled success. However, his journey to stardom wasn’t devoid of challenges. Recently, at the Locarno Film Festival 2024, he shared a candid recollection of his early days in the film industry, including a rather harsh critique from a director who labeled him as ‘ugly.’
During an insightful interaction with Giona A.Nazzaro at the festival, Shah Rukh Khan revealed an experience from his initial years in Bollywood. “He [a director] said, the most attractive part of you is that you’re very ugly, you know, because all these heroes, they look really Swiss chocolate-like. I didn’t look like Swiss chocolate,” Shah Rukh Khan recalled. The actor further explained that this blunt assessment led him to embrace roles that deviated from the conventional hero image. Instead of being disheartened, Shah Rukh decided to take on darker, more complex characters, turning what could have been a setback into an opportunity to showcase his versatility.

One such role that stands out in his early career is that of the obsessive lover in the film ‘Darr’. In this psychological thriller, Shah Rukh’s portrayal of the chilling and memorable character who relentlessly pursues K-K-K-K Kiran remains one of his most iconic performances. Reflecting on his transformation during the filming of ‘Darr’, Shah Rukh humorously added, “ One of the bad guys roles I did was in Switzerland. It was a film called ‘Darr.’ I think being in Switzerland and drinking your milk, I became chocolatey.”

While ‘Darr’ solidified Shah Rukh Khan’s reputation as an actor capable of playing intense, negative roles, it was the legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra who saw beyond the sinister façade. As Shah Rukh was wrapping up the movie, the filmmaker approached him with a proposition – “Mr. Yash Chopra told me, ‘I want to cast you in a love story. You don’t look such a bad guy.’ He made ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ with me,” Shah Rukh shared.
‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ (DDLJ) went on to become one of the most celebrated romantic films in Indian cinema, cementing Shah Rukh Khan’s status as the ultimate lover boy of Bollywood. His portrayal of Raj, the charming and devoted romantic, resonated with audiences across generations, turning him into a global icon.

Further, at the Locarno Film Festival 2024, Shah Rukh Khan also confirmed his involvement in an upcoming action-thriller titled ‘King,’ directed by Sujoy Ghosh. This highly anticipated film will see King Khan with his daughter, Suhana Khan, in a parallel lead. Also, Abhishek Bachchan and Abhay Verma will be seen portraying negative characters in the movie.