Renowned as the King of Romance for his roles in films like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Dil To Pagal Hai and many more, Shah Rukh Khan has also delved into more poignant and tragic love stories. One such masterpiece was the 2002 Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed Devdas, where Khan portrayed the heartbroken lover, Dev. The film's powerful narrative, coupled with Khan's intense performance, garnered critical acclaim and numerous awards. SRK himself reflected on Devdas' significance during an interview at the 77th Locarno Film Festival, where he was honoured with the Pardo alla Carriera Ascona-Locarno Tourism award. Shah Rukh Khan To Reunite With ‘Jawan’ Music Composer Anirudh Ravichander for His Next Film? Here’s What We Know.

Speaking about the SLB's movie, SRK expressed, “I didn’t want you to feel love for him, but I didn’t want you to hate him either. Nor did I want you to like him for being an alcoholic who runs away from every girl he falls in love with. I just wanted him to appear indescribable". He also revealed that he turned to alcohol to prepare for his role in Devdas. While it helped him win a Best Actor award, it also negatively impacted his health. "It might have helped, but I started drinking after the film and that’s one downside to it," he said. Shah Rukh Khan Honoured With Pardo alla Carriera, Becomes First Indian To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at the Locarno Film Festival (View Pics).

Watch Shah Rukh Khan's Full Interview Below:

SRK revealed that he accepted Devdas despite warnings from industry veterans, hoping to make his parents proud. He also believed that his mother would have appreciated Devdas. “I just felt that if I made Devdas, she (mother) would really like it and appreciate it. I didn’t think I could play the character because some of the greatest artists in our country like Dilip Kumar, KL Saigal and Uttam Kumar had played it flawlessly earlier," he said.

Devdas, a 2002 film directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, is a cinematic adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's classic novel. Starring Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit, Jackie Shroff, Kirron Kher, and other talented actors, this film brought the timeless love story to life on the big screen.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 17, 2024 05:37 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).