Shah Rukh Khan and Farhan Akhtar`s friendship goes far beyond Don. On mid-day’s Sit With Hitlist series, Farhan Akhtar opened up about his journey as a filmmaker, actor, and storyteller—one shaped not just by the films he created but also by the people he met along the way. Among those bonds, his friendship with Shah Rukh Khan holds a special, unforgettable place.
Farhan Akhtar recalls his first professional meetup with Shah Rukh Khan
Farhan recalled how their professional equation began right after the release of Dil Chahta Hai. “Shah Rukh Khan and I spent a lot of time after Dil Chahta Hai,” he shared. Despite trying to reach SRK earlier, their first real meeting happened when Shah Rukh watched the film at Famous Studios in Mahalaxmi. “That was the first time we met professionally. He had earlier met me as Honey Irani’s son,” he said, reflecting on how their relationship evolved from a familiar industry acquaintance to something deeper.
Their connection strengthened during the prep of Lakshya, much of which unfolded in Delhi. “When I was in the thick of prep for Lakshya, we met more often, as Gauri’s family was from there, and Shah Rukh was also there numerous times,” Farhan recalled. One memorable coincidence further sparked their bond. The restaurant where Hrithik Roshan and Preity Zinta’s breakup scene in the film was shot belonged to one of Shah Rukh’s childhood friends. “He asked me to stay back and chill around till Shah Rukh came. That is how we started hanging out,” Farhan said with a smile.
A funny incident with Shah Rukh Khan on the sets of Don
As Lakshya wrapped up, the two kept talking about collaborating. Farhan was clear about one thing—he genuinely wanted to work with SRK. “There is something very magnetic and charming about him,” he said. Eventually, he pitched Don, and the rest became a celebrated chapter in Bollywood history.
But one behind-the-scenes moment from the Don shoot in Paris remains etched in Farhan’s mind for an entirely different reason. Battling a severe neck ache in the freezing weather, Farhan found unexpected help. “Shah Rukh asked me about my ache, and he massaged my neck. Then he gave me a pill to ease the pain,” he recounted, laughing. “The next day, my neck was completely jammed… so he is great at a lot of things, but not massages.”
