Mumbai: Actor Abhay Verma has described sharing screen space with his childhood idol Shah Rukh Khan in the upcoming action thriller King as a surreal experience, saying his biggest aspiration is to become a better person like the superstar before becoming a better actor.
In an exclusive interaction, Abhay opened up about his first day on the sets of King, the lessons he has learnt from Shah Rukh and how the experience has changed his understanding of stardom.
The actor said Shah Rukh’s influence on him extends far beyond cinema and performance. For Abhay, the superstar’s approach to relationships, family, work and life has been as inspiring as his journey as an actor.
‘That’s the man of my dreams’
Recalling his first day with Shah Rukh Khan, Abhay said it took him some time to process that he was finally spending time with the person he had admired for years.
He said Shah Rukh’s simplicity made the experience even more striking, as the superstar did not make those around him feel overwhelmed by his stature.
Only after spending several hours with him on the first day did Abhay fully realise the significance of the moment.
“That’s the man of my dreams,” he recalled thinking while returning from the set.
Abhay said he had grown up watching Shah Rukh Khan and learning to dream by observing his journey. He added that he had faced difficult circumstances in his own life and often drew inspiration from the struggles and journeys portrayed by the superstar on screen.
‘I want to become a person like him’
Abhay said while many aspiring actors want to emulate Shah Rukh’s success as a performer, his own ambition is broader.
“I really want to become a person like him,” he said, explaining that becoming a better human being is more important to him than simply becoming a better actor.
According to Abhay, every character and film he takes up is part of his effort to grow personally as well as professionally.
He said his intention is to become a better person first and then, if possible, a better actor.
The actor’s admiration for Shah Rukh is rooted in the way he sees the superstar’s values reflected both in his films and his larger public persona.
Shah Rukh’s influence beyond acting
Abhay said Shah Rukh’s portrayals of love, family and relationships have also shaped his own aspirations.
He spoke about wanting to nurture his relationship with his sister with the same affection and care he has associated with Shah Rukh’s on-screen characters.
He also said the superstar’s portrayal of romance had influenced the way he wants to approach love and relationships in his own life.
Abhay particularly recalled a scene from Chak De! India involving the protagonist and his mother, saying it resonated strongly with his own desire to make his mother proud through his achievements.
The actor said he sees praise for his own work as indirectly connected to the influence Shah Rukh has had on him.
“He’s the one person I have learnt everything from,” Abhay said.
Simplicity redefines stardom
Working alongside Shah Rukh Khan has also changed Abhay’s understanding of what it means to be a superstar.
He said he was particularly impressed by the actor’s simplicity and continued enthusiasm for filmmaking despite more than three decades in cinema.
Abhay said he was amazed that after 35 years of winning audiences’ hearts, Shah Rukh still approached shooting with the same passion and energy.
According to him, this lasting enthusiasm stems from Shah Rukh’s love for his craft and his desire to keep giving to cinema.
One of the most important lessons Abhay said he has taken from Shah Rukh is his “giving personality” and willingness to support others.
He also spoke about the importance of unity, saying the lesson had been reinforced through his experience while working on Operation Safed Sagar, including filming at real locations and airbases.
King delay worth the wait, says Abhay
The upcoming film King has taken longer than initially expected, but Abhay said the scale and ambition of the project make the wait worthwhile.
“Good things take time,” he said, adding that the makers are attempting to deliver an experience that audiences may not have seen before in Indian cinema.
Abhay said he believes the additional time is justified if the filmmakers are working to create something ambitious and memorable.
The actor also recalled Shah Rukh’s perspective on the audience and the responsibility of entertainers.
According to Abhay, Shah Rukh once told him that filmmakers should work for the person who buys a ticket and sits at the back of the balcony, with the aim of helping that viewer forget the stress of an entire week.
For Abhay, that thought reflects Shah Rukh’s continued connection with ordinary moviegoers despite his decades-long career and enormous success.
He said the superstar’s attitude serves as a reminder that a hit film or growing popularity should never place an actor above the audience.
A different side of Abhay in King
Abhay is also looking forward to presenting a different side of himself through his role in King.
The actor said audiences will see him in a new avatar in the film, adding that he is particularly excited simply to be part of the same project as his idol.
Apart from King, he also has projects such as Dilkashi, Laikey Laikaa and Jacob Cardoso in his upcoming slate.
Directed by Siddharth Anand, King is positioned as a major action thriller featuring a star-studded ensemble.
The film stars Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Suhana Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff and Rani Mukerji.
For Abhay, however, the most special part of the project remains the opportunity to work alongside the actor whose journey first inspired him to dream of cinema.