Shahrukh Khan says while turning to alcohol helped him win the Best Actor award for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas, it also has a downside.
Shah Rukh Khan played the role of an alcoholic in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 2002 blockbuster period drama Devdas. In a new chat from the Locarno Film Festival, the actor revealed that he resorted to method acting for the role, which worked both in his favor and against him. (Also Read – Shahrukh Khan says he makes big films so his parents can watch from heaven: ‘I still think my mother is a star’)
What did Shahrukh say?
Shahrukh said that he resorted to alcohol to play the lead character. When asked if it was good, he replied that it was professionally successful as it earned him a Best Actor award the following year. However, he also said that it affected his health. “It could have helped, but I started drinking after the film and that’s the downside,” he said.
Shahrukh further talked about his portrayal of the iconic character conceived by Bengali novelist Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1917. “I didn’t want you to feel love for him, but I didn’t want you to hate him. Nor did I want you to like him for being a drunkard who runs away from every girl he falls in love with. I just wanted her to look indescribable,” said Shahrukh.
About Devdas
In 1955, after Bimal Roy’s film Devdas, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film was made, in which Dilip Kumar was in the lead role. In Bhansali’s Devdas, Aishwarya Rai played the role of Paro and Madhuri Dixit played the role of Chandramukhi along with Shahrukh. Jackie Shroff, Kirron Kher, Tiku Talsania and Dina Pathak as Chunari Babu were also part of the cast. Produced by Bharat Shah’s Mega Bollywood, Devdas became a rare Hindi film to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival that year. The film’s memorable music was composed by Ismail Darbar. Made on an unprecedented budget of ₹50 crore, Devdas grossed ₹99.88 crore worldwide.
Shahrukh’s next release is King, a crime drama directed by Sujoy Ghosh. He will be seen sharing screen space with daughter Suhana Khan in an age-appropriate role. Produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, King will release in theaters on Eid 2026.
