‘I don’t think he is finished’: When Gauri Khan got candid about Shah Rukh Khan

Gauri Khan, easily one of the most popular star wives in Bollywood, is celebrating her 50th birthday today. An interior designer by profession, Gauri is known for her straightforward attitude. Her candid statements often make headlines.

Gauri had given an interview to Savvy magazine in May 2000, a time when SRK was going through a low phase in his film career. His maiden production, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, had failed to work its magic at the box office. It was also the time when the media was not too happy with him for some of his controversial remarks.

On the other hand, Hrithik Roshan had become an overnight star after his debut with Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, which had incidentally come out just a week before Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani. Many had even begun to speculate that Hrithik would replace SRK to be the new bona fide superstar of Bollywood.

Sharing her views on Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, Gauri had said in the interview, “I am being honest when saying that I liked Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani but yes, I didn’t love it. It was not one of my favourites. I feel you have to make films for the public and not for yourself, which Shah Rukh has also understood.”

However, Gauri had said that despite seeing a massive failure with Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, she didn’t think SRK was finished. She had said, “One cannot wish success always; one has to see failure too. And anyway, I don’t think he is finished. He is seeing success and he will see success.”

SRK was last seen in Aanand L Rai’s Zero, which had turned out to be a damp squib at the box office, ending up with lifetime collection of a miniscule Rs 90 crore. He has a couple of exciting projects in his kitty, including Siddharth Anand’s Pathan and a social comedy with Rajkumar Hirani.