Is Shah Rukh Khan jinxed for critics ?

One look at Shah Rukh Khan’s filmography and you will notice that most of his films have received the best of reviews. Another look at the films made by critics and you will notice the common element in most of them is the Shah Rukh Khan factor. So while it is a fact that Shah Rukh has received much critical acclaim, there’s also no denying to the fact that critics have exploited enough of SRK’s fame.

The most recent example of this could be Samar Khan’s film Shaurya starring Kay Kay Menon, Rahul Bose and Minissha Lamba. Shah Rukh will make a special appearance in the film towards the end, reciting poems. Popular television film critic turned filmmaker Samar Khan says, “ Shaurya didn’t have any role for Shah Rukh. But when the film was complete, I felt there was something missing. Something special was absent. Hence for this film I knew that I just wanted SRK to be in it. Then came the poem part and I approached him to recite it."

Samar continues, "SRK can never say no to anyone. Besides when he heard the lines of the poem he was so taken by it that he just agreed to do it on the spot”. So a small offbeat film like Shaurya gets that extra star value even when Shah Rukh comes in for a 2 minute recital.

Samar Khan’s previous film Kuch Meetha Ho Jaaye too had Shah Rukh Khan in a cameo. King Khan couldn’t help that film much with his presence since much harm was done by the time he arrived in the picture. Samar can only pray that history doesn’t repeat itself now.

When another popular film critic Khalid Mohammed turned towards filmmaking, Shah Rukh Khan featured in his wish list too. Shah Rukh was supposed to do an item number in Khalid’s debut film Fiza , on the track Gaya Gaya Dil when male item numbers were still not recognized. Unfortunately since the length of the film went over 3 hours 15 minutes, his song was chopped off at the last moment.

However that didn’t discourage Khalid from approaching Shah Rukh for a second time in his third film Silsiilay where he finally played the sutradhar. Silsiilay was about three parallel stories that were connected together by Shah Rukh who played a host to the film introducing and interlinking the characters. Unfortunately this time too his presence didn’t help the film which bombed badly at the box-office. Which makes us ponder whether SRK is jinxed for the critics?

Is that the reason another popular film critic turned filmmaker Kunal Kohli never had Shah Rukh Khan in his films. And if you come to think of it, all his films from Hum Tum to Fanaa have worked well. Even Mujhse Shaadi Karogi worked well in the overseas market.

Of course we know that the script and direction is what matters in the end, but in an industry ruled by myths, superstitions and fallacy, the fate of Shaurya will decide if Shah Rukh Khan is jinxed for film critics turned filmmakers.

Gaurav Malani, Indiatimes Movies