Shah Rukh Khan turns 56 years tomorrow and it’s sure going to be a happy birthday for him literally as his son Aryan Khan got released from the jail just a few days ago. In his illustrious career, the superstar has worked with several actors, filmmakers and technicians and many of them have spoken in detail about their lovely experience of working with them. Talented actress Divya Dutta, too, has in the past revealed about her bonding with Shah Rukh Khan especially during the shoot of Veer-Zaara (2004). But in her book ‘The Stars In My Sky: Those Who Brightened My Film Journey’, the actress has touched upon some unknown trivia about the superstar.
Divya Dutta in the book revealed that she had a major crush on him, just like most girls in the college, when his TV show ‘Fauji’ used to be aired. She mentioned in the book that “Some girls in my college broke up with their boyfriends because of their new-found loyalty to this charming boy with a dimpled smile”!
After Divya joined the industry, she had gone to the Venus office to audition for a film which also starred Shah Rukh Khan. After meeting the director duo Abbas-Mustan and while walking down the stairs, she bumped into SRK and all her photographs fell out of her bag. Divya was stunned when she realized that it was Shah Rukh. The superstar very sweetly picked up her scattered photographs and asked her if she is Divya. He also said that he’s hoping that they both can work together and wished her best. Needless to say, it made her day to learn that Shah Rukh knows her by her name and cared to remember her.
Sadly, that film, which probably was Baadshah (1999), didn’t land in Divya Dutta’s lap. A few days later, a friend informed her that Mani Ratnam is looking for a parallel lead for Dil Se (1998), which also featured Shah Rukh. Divya felt shy and awkward in calling Mani Ratnam directly and asking him to cast her. With no other option, she met Anwar, Divya’s friend and Shah Rukh’s secretary. Anwar agreed to set up a meeting with the star.
However, the meeting was supposed to take place on the outdoor set of Dil Se at Connaught Place, Delhi. Divya Dutta was told to stand at a certain spot at a designated team and that someone would come and escort her to meet Shah Rukh.
At Connaught Place, Divya was shocked as thousands of people had gathered to see SRK filming. She stood at the assigned spot and as time passed, she started giving up hope. 30 minutes later, someone from the team indeed shouted her name and took her to meet Shah Rukh, leaving fans amused as to who is she and why is she being allowed to meet their favourite actor!
Shah Rukh Khan was seated in a car and that’s where Divya Dutta met him. He gave his famous dimpled smile, apologized for meeting in a chaotic environment and offered her tea. When SRK asked her why she wanted to meet, she expressed the desire to be the second heroine in Dil Se. Shah Rukh promised that he’ll convey her message to Mani Ratnam. There were several fans outside the car already and yet, SRK chivalrously escorted her out.
Divya wrote in the book at this point, “I was just another newcomer. But he was patient enough to hear me out. He was warm enough to make me feel special.”
Shah Rukh kept his word and Divya got a chance to meet Mani Ratnam. Unfortunately, he said that since she bears an uncanny resemblance to Manisha Koirala, who is also one of the actress in the film, she can’t be cast in the film. After all, Divya’s role was not that of Manisha’s sister.
It was only five years later that Shah Rukh Khan and Divya Dutta shared screen space in Veer-Zaara.
Their next memorable interaction happened during the 14th IIFA Awards held at Macau in July 2013. In the return flight, Shah Rukh Khan suggested that all the celebs present should play dumb charades. Divya Dutta was accompanied by her mother and she was seated in the front row, busy watching Gangs Of Wasseypur (2012). Whoever had to enact the film would have to stand next to her. When it was SRK’s turn, he unintentionally touched the rewind button on her screen thrice. Her mom however was unperturbed and watched the same scene three times. When SRK realized, he graciously apologized and Divya’s mother smiled in return.
Later, when Divya was napping in the flight, Shah Rukh Khan knocked at her seat softly. When she woke up, he gifted her packet of goodies that he brought for her on the flight. He gifted similar goodies to everyone in the flight and this gesture won her heart once again.
When the flight landed, a lot of fans had assembled to see him. Yet, SRK patiently waited and made sure all the ladies in the flight sat in their cars first. “Only after that did he leave but not before flashing that warm dimpled smile of his,” wrote Divya.