How Shah Rukh Khan and Atlee came together for Jawan

Shah Rukh Khan's latest film, "Jawan," has been met with enthusiastic reviews. This success marks his second consecutive hit, following the release of "Pathaan" earlier in 2023.

However, prior to these successes, Khan faced a prolonged string of flops that took a toll on his image. After the failure of his film "Zero" in 2018, directed by Aanand L Rai, Khan took a hiatus from the film industry.

During his break, he took time to reevaluate and focus on the content he was choosing. Over the next two years, he finalized three films: Pathaan, Jawan, and Rajkumar Hirani's "Dunki."

Shah Rukh Khan keenly understood the changing preferences of the audience, who were increasingly drawn to content from the South Indian film industry. With this in mind, he decided to produce a film directed by renowned South Cinema director Atlee, a quintessential masala-action movie embodying the essence of South Indian cinema.

So, how did Shah Rukh and Atlee come together to create Jawan?

The first reports of a collaboration between South director Atlee and Shah Rukh Khan surfaced in October 2019, although they were unconfirmed at the time. Then, the pandemic forced the closure of cinema houses in the country. In 2021, news resurfaced that Shah Rukh Khan might star in a movie directed by Atlee.

• It was reported that Atlee had presented a compelling concept to Shah Rukh Khan, who was eager to work with him. By then, Atlee had achieved a remarkable track record with three consecutive hits starring South superstar Vijay.
• Describing their meeting, Shah Rukh Khan said, "He came to see me in Mumbai and said, 'I have a film,' and I found it very intriguing." Shah Rukh continued, "The first line he told me about the film was, 'It is you, sir, with five girls.' My wife and I truly believe that you look your best when you have women around you in a film."
• Shah Rukh revealed that he decided to take on the project the moment Atlee showed him a scene where he played a bald character. He recalled, "There's a scene where I am introduced as the bald hero, and I remember Atlee putting a lot of powder in my hand. I even sneezed while shooting that scene. But when I finally saw the shot, I knew it was time for 'Jawan.'"

Shah Rukh Khan not only acted in the film but also produced it. The star-studded cast includes South superstars Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, Priyamani, and Sanya Malhotra.

Initially scheduled for release on June 7, 2023, the film's launch was postponed to September 7, 2023, due to post-production issues.