Alia Bhatt froze the first day while shooting first scene with Shah Rukh Khan in Dear Zindagi: “My mind went completely blank”

Alia Bhatt was in attendance at the Red Sea Film Festival 2023 in Saudi Arabia where she spoke about her career, her blockbusters and sharing screen space with some of the biggest stars. During a special conversation, Alia Bhatt talked about working with Shah Rukh Khan in Gauri Shinde’s Dear Zindagi in 2016. She recalled what it was like working with SRK on the first day of the shoot. She also revealed that Suhana Khan, who debuted in The Archies, was also on set making notes while little AbRam Khan also accompanied them.

Speaking at the cinema hall full of fans, Alia Bhatt said, “Shah Rukh really likes to rehearse. So the day before we sat and spoke about the scene various times and Suhana was there I remember. She was taking notes, she was like being very diligent in a way. AbRam was there, really small and running around. We spoke about the scene and I was still going in and out in the days and was trying to be all cool and normal but it was whatever.”

Recalling her first day on set and sharing screen space with Shah Rukh Khan, she added, “As we went on sets, and we were doing the first shot together, I think I froze. My mind went completely blank because I couldn't believe it. And then Gauri (Shinde) had to come and whispered in my ears and said, ‘You have to forget The Shah Rukh Khan, and I was like okay.’ Actually, my character had to give him attitude and I was like how to do this.”

The National-Award-winning actress further said, “I say this all the time he is such a generous human being. He has so much love and he really very early on in my career working with him, I had the ability to observe him and the honor to observe him and literally set my set behavior looking at him, how respectful he is to everyone, how much attention he gives to everyone. He is fooling around with people; he is light, he's excited, he's into it and he is so giving. He does not need to be so giving but he is and that's the reason he is who he is.”

Dear Zindagi is the story of Kaira, a budding cinematographer in search of a perfect life. A chance encounter with Jug, an unconventional thinker, helps her gain a new perspective on life. She discovers that happiness is all about finding comfort in life's imperfections.

Meanwhile, Alia Bhatt has her next with Vasan Bala. Titled Jigra, the actress is co-producing the project with Karan Johar. ALSO READ: Alia Bhatt to attend closing ceremony of Red Sea Film Festival, will share stage with Jason Statham, Halle Berry, Nicolas Cage, Gwyneth Paltrow