Annu Kapoor questions Shah Rukh’s ‘last superstar’ tag, asks if stardom can last till 2045
Annu Kapoor has refuted Shah Rukh Khan’s claim of being the ‘last of the stars’, comparing the actor’s career with the enduring legacy of Amitabh Bachchan and other industry legends.
Actor Annu Kapoor has questioned Shah Rukh Khan’s claim of being the “ultimate star”, saying very few actors have managed to remain relevant across generations. Referring to the actor’s career, Kapoor said it would be difficult to predict whether Shah Rukh would be able to maintain the same level of relevance for the next two decades.
Shahrukh’s comments came after more than a decade during his appearance on Anupam Kher’s chat show Anything can happen In 2014, described himself as “the last of the stars”.
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in an interview with hindi rushAnnu Kapoor argued that there have long been narratives around stardom in the media, recalling how similar claims were once made about the late Rajesh Khanna.
He said, “The media has been creating this story for years that a particular person is the last superstar. Similar things were said during Rajesh Khanna’s time also. If we look back, we realize that no one in this industry has come close to the kind of innings that Amitabh Bachchan, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle have played. It has become very difficult for anyone to maintain such a long career.”
After this, Kapoor compared Shahrukh Khan’s career with the longevity of veteran star Amitabh Bachchan.
He said, “The actor you are referring to started his career around 1992. That’s about 34 years. If you subtract 34 from Amitabh Bachchan’s 53-year career, there are still 19 years left. Do you think it is possible for Shah Rukh Khan to remain equally relevant for the next 19 years? I am deliberately not taking his name. Will he remain relevant in 2045 as well? I don’t think so.”
However, Kapoor clarified that his comments were not intended to belittle Shah Rukh’s achievements.
He said, “But no one can deny the fact that Shahrukh Khan is the second richest actor in the world.”
Recalling his experience of working with Shahrukh in Yash Chopra’s film FearKapoor initially said that they had never worked together. After being reminded that they had shared screen space in the 1993 psychological thriller, he replied, “I don’t remember. He was extremely new then. I don’t remember what we talked about. You should ask him if he remembers working with me and whether he learned anything from me.”
Despite disagreeing with the “last superstar” label, Kapoor praised Shah Rukh for his personal values.
She said, “I’ve certainly heard that he’s a very good father, husband and an excellent brother. That’s something to remember. Superstars come and go, but a man who cares for his sister and his family, that’s his greatest achievement.”
On the film front, Shahrukh Khan is preparing for his next film. KingWith director Siddharth Anand. The film also stars Abhishek Bachchan, Deepika Padukone and her daughter Suhana Khan.