Actor Shah Rukh Khan decided to work in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas only for his mother, despite being advised to do so. In a recent podcast, the 57-year-old actor expressed his desire to make larger-than-life films so that his parents, who died before his acting debut, could watch his films from heaven.

But Shahrukh was seen Locarno Meats Podcast, where he was asked about one of the his iconic filmsDevdas (2002). He shared how, despite liking the script and the film’s spectacular setting, it was initially unsuccessful.

Shahrukh said, “A time came that we would not do it and I moved ahead. But I was very keen to do such a film in my career.” He further added, “By the time I joined films, my parents had passed away; Both of them were not alive. I don’t know, for some reason, I always thought I would make movies that were huge, so that my mom and dad could watch them from heaven.

Dismissing his idea as “childish”, Shah Rukh said, “I still think my mother is a star, and it works. I think I know she is a star. So I thought if If I make Devdas, she will really like it.” She will appreciate it.”

Although he was not confident that he would be able to play the character of Devdas – which has already been played by veteran actors like Dilip Kumar and Uttam Kumar – Shahrukh wanted to do it for his mother. “Despite senior actors telling me, ‘Don’t do it’, I just wanted to do it, maybe just to tell my mother, ‘Hey mom, I did Devdas.’ For me, it was the first time and also working with Mr. Bhansali,” said the actor.

Eventually Devdas was made and became a blockbuster hit. It also starred Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit and Jackie Shroff in important roles and is one of Shahrukh’s best performances to date.