Arn Johar often recalls his first meeting with Shah Rukh Khan, which took place in the office of veteran producer-director Anand Mahindru in the late 1980s. At the time, Karan was preparing to make his acting debut in Mahindru’s children’s science-fiction television series Indradhanush (1989). According to Karan, Shah Rukh went to the office to decline a role in the same show, and the way he directly turned down the offer initially gave Karan the impression that he was arrogant.

That perception changed years later when the two worked together in Aditya Chopra’s 1995 blockbuster Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. During the course of the film, Karan worked as an assistant director, appeared in a supporting role and also helped with Shah Rukh’s costumes. The collaboration marked the beginning of a long professional and personal relationship between them.

However, Anand Mahindru has since offered a different account of the incident, suggesting that Shah Rukh’s visit and his recollection of rejecting the role do not entirely match Kareena’s version of events.

Anand said on Indian Express’ Screen Spotlight, “There’s a bit of spice in how Karan tells the story: ‘Mujhe serial-viral nahi karna hai (I don’t want to do serials)!’ Shahrukh is not like that.”

Mahindru said that Shah Rukh Khan has maintained a positive relationship with him even after attaining stardom. He recalled that after Shah Rukh’s rise to fame, particularly the success of Yash Chopra’s 1993 romantic thriller Dhar, the actor agreed to play a small role in Rajini, a television series produced by Mahindru and directed by Basu Chatterjee. The filmmaker cited the cameo as an example of Shah Rukh’s willingness to support former colleagues despite his growing popularity in the industry.

He added, “Had that been the case, I wouldn’t have had such a good relationship with him that years later, after Dar was a hit, we would spend a whole day working together on Rajini. The next day, he even allowed us to shoot at his house in Bandra.”

“I also had an office in Delhi, and Shah Rukh used to visit me there. I liked him. He was a member of the Qutub Club and would take me bowling. He would take me to Paranthe Wali Gali at night, play music at full volume, stand on top of the car and sing Govinda’s song Kali Ankhen Miss India.”

Recalling an incident that marked the strong sense of direction in Shah Rukh Khan’s career, Mahindru said veteran filmmaker Basu Bhattacharya, a close family friend, had once offered the actor a role in one of his films. However, Shah Rukh chose not to accept the project as he already had a clear vision of his career and the kind of work he wanted to pursue.

According to Mahindru, Shah Rukh told Basu Bhattacharya, “I am not interested in doing intellectual films. There are already enough actors in the industry. I want to be a star.”

“The best thing about him is that he is very clear about what he wants to do and what he doesn’t want to do,” added Mahindru.

“I saw a little bit of myself in him. He never went into the make-up room. Even when they were shooting Mahima’s scenes or choreographer Ahmed Khan Jr. was shooting with the cast, he was still on set. He lived and breathed cinema all the time, and that resonated strongly with me,” he said.