Shah Rukh Khan may be Bollywood’s ultimate superstar, but even the King of Romance isn’t shy about laughing at his own failures. At the grand trailer launch of Aryan Khan’s much-talked-about Netflix series “The Ba***ds of Bollywood,” SRK stole the spotlight with his trademark wit when the conversation turned towards his infamous 2018 box-office misfire Zero.
While interacting with actor Manish Chaudhari on stage, SRK was playfully reminded of Zero. Without missing a beat, the superstar delivered a cheeky one-liner that had the entire auditorium in splits. He quipped, “As a producer to another producer, make whatever you want, make fools, make donkeys, make mamu of people if you must, but for God’s sake, don’t make a ‘Zero’ like me again.” His sarcastic jab at himself not only triggered loud laughter but also earned him a high-five from Chaudhari.
The witty remark was more than just a punchline; it was a rare moment where the actor openly acknowledged the colossal failure of Zero. The ambitious film, directed by Aanand L. Rai, saw SRK take on the role of a vertically challenged man. Despite its hype, the film fell flat both critically and commercially. With a massive budget of nearly ₹200 crore and global collections of around ₹178 crore, it ended up as one of SRK’s biggest disappointments. The setback was so significant that Shah Rukh took a step back from acting for almost four years.
But the event wasn’t just about SRK’s self-deprecating humour. The evening truly belonged to Aryan Khan, who is stepping into Bollywood not as an actor, but as a writer and director. His first project, “The Ba***ds of Bollywood,” is being produced under Red Chillies Entertainment, and is already generating huge buzz. Proud father SRK made it clear that while he can laugh at his own blunders, he has full faith in Aryan’s vision. He urged fans and the industry to extend the same love and encouragement to Aryan that he has been fortunate to receive for decades.
With SRK’s candid confession about Zero and Aryan’s directorial debut now making waves, the event turned into more than just a trailer launch, it became a reminder that even Bollywood’s biggest star knows how to turn failure into humour and use it to uplift the next generation.
