Shah Rukh Khan was at his wittiest best during his appearance at the World Governments Summit 2024, which was held in Dubai. During the long conversation with the host, SRK spoke candidly about his successful career, going through an acting sabbatical, and more. The superstar also did a terrific impression of James Bond’s iconic dialogue: “The name is Bond. James Bond.” In turn, the Dunki star was also asked if he was ever interested in playing the legendary character, which has been a career-defining role for many Hollywood actors like Daniel Craig and Pierce Brosnan, and one which is a dream role for stars across the globe…
Would Shah Rukh Khan like to play James Bond?
Shah Rukh Khan revealed that he would, in fact, like to play James Bond, but followed that up with a reason why he thinks he can’t: “I really wanted to, but I think I am too short,” according to Hindustan Times. However, SRK also disclosed that there’s another role that he believes he’d be perfect for instead: “But I am brown enough to play the Bond baddie.”
During the same chat, Shah Rukh Khan was also asked why it’s taking him so long to do a Hollywood crossover. To this, the Jawan star confessed, “I have said this honestly but nobody believes it, so I am gonna say it to you very, very honestly. Nobody has ever offered me any work, crossover of substance. I may have had conversations with people. I know lots of lovely people from the West, from the English film industry, from the American film industry, but nobody has offered me any good work.”
“I hear actors talk about ‘Oh yes, I want a crossover. I want to take Indian cinema.’ I think I still have to learn how to be able to deliver to the audience that likes me, and, instead of spreading myself too thin. And then yeah, of course, if you’ve not been offered a job, how do you take it? So really, I have never been offered a film in Hollywood or in England,” Shah Rukh added.
Nevertheless, SRK did admit that he was offered Anil Kapoor’s role in the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire by the producers, who wanted him to be a part of the Dev Patel and Freida Pinto starrer. While he spent a lot of quality time with the “very sweet” Danny Boyle to discuss the movie, Shah Rukh was subsequently hosting Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? on TV successfully and felt the Slumdog Millionaire character “was very mean” and “cheating as a host.” Shah Rukh added, “I felt very strange that I was hosting a show and I was cheating in the film. I explained to Mr. Boyle, I wouldn’t like to do it please and there are way better actors than me. I think Mr. Anil Kapoor did it and he was fantastic as the host.”
In a parting comment, the Pathaan star spoke about his dream of starring in a film that is loved across the globe: “I want to end my career, which is faaaar from ending right now. I have another good 35 years to go. I really, really want to make that film which is loved by the whole world and then nobody on a big stage like this asks me, ‘Why haven’t you crossed over?’ That film should cross me over. That’s my dream.”
