Shah Rukh Khan A Workaholic, Smokes Like Chimney; Salman Doesn't Interact Much, Govind Namdev Claims

Veteran actor Govind Namdev, who has done hit films with Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, got candid about his experience of working with the two Bollywood superstars in a recent interview. Govind recalled shooting with SRK for the 2000 drama Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani.

In an interview with Bollywood Bubble, Govind said that since Shah Rukh was also the producer on the film, he used to work day and night on the set. Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani was bankrolled by Dreamz Unlimited, founded by Shah Rukh, his actor friend Juhi Chawla, and filmmaker Aziz Mirza, who helmed the film.

“I had heard a lot about workaholics, jinhe sirf kaam ki dhun hoti hai. I had heard about them, but I saw it the first time when I worked with Shah Rukh Khan,” Govind Namdev said.

“We worked throughout the day, then at night he mingled with the whole crew, we ate together and then, because he was also the producer, he worked till 2 AM. The next day, he had to take an early morning flight to Chennai to attend a function, then come back and resume shooting! He would’ve slept for not more than three and a half or four hours maximum. Kaam mein dhuni hai woh. He will smoke like a chimney and keep working, keep thinking about what to do next. Superstars usually have this attitude, these tantrums, but not him,” the 69-year-old actor said.

When asked about his experience of working with Salman Khan, with whom he collaborated for the Boney Kapoor-backed actioner ‘Wanted’, Govind said that as far as on-set interactions go, Salman was the opposite of Shah Rukh.

“He doesn’t interact much, sirf kaam se kaam. There was no personal talk at all. Just sometimes how unke father kaise hote the, kuch bhi tedha kiya toh padti thi humko‘ (Salman would share how if the kids did anything naughty, they would get a beating by their father Salim). That’s it. He is the opposite of Shah Rukh Khan as far as interacting with others is concerned,” he added.