Shah Rukh Khan recently revealed his experience of method acting for his iconic role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 2002 period drama Devdas. In a conversation at the Locarno Film Festival, the actor shared that he turned to alcohol in order to authentically portray the tragic character of Devdas, originally conceived by Bengali novelist Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1917.
To bring depth to the character of Devdas, an alcoholic who spirals into self-destruction after being separated from his love, Shah Rukh admitted that he consumed alcohol during filming. “It might have helped, but I started drinking after the film, and that’s one downside to it,” he said. While this approach earned him critical acclaim and the Best Actor award the following year, it took a toll on his health, highlighting the personal cost of his commitment to the role.
Shah Rukh further elaborated on his portrayal of Devdas, emphasizing that he didn’t want audiences to love, hate, or fully sympathize with the character. “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 an alcoholic who runs away from every girl that he falls in love with. I just wanted him to appear indescribable,” he said, describing the delicate balance he aimed to strike in the portrayal of such a complex character.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas is a celebrated adaptation, following Bimal Roy’s 1955 classic starring Dilip Kumar. Bhansali’s version starred Aishwarya Rai as Paro and Madhuri Dixit as Chandramukhi, with Shah Rukh Khan as the tragic hero. The film, noted for its grandeur and Bhansali’s signature style, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2002 and was praised for its memorable music, composed by Ismail Darbar. Devdas was made on an unprecedented budget of ₹50 crore and grossed ₹99.88 crore worldwide.
Shah Rukh Khan’s next major release is King, a crime drama directed by Sujoy Ghosh. In a highly anticipated project, he will share the screen with his daughter, Suhana Khan, who will have an age-appropriate role in the film. Produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, King is slated for release during Eid 2026.
