Describing himself as an “outsider”, Shah Rukh Khan pulled actor Vicky Kaushal’s leg and called him a “Nepo kid”. Both the actors were interacting at the 24th IIFA Awards held recently in Abu Dhabi. Vicky humorously trolled Shahrukh for this claim All the big films came to him first And then the director took him to other actors, Shahrukh gave it back to him with his candid intelligence and humour.

When Shah Rukh joked that he rejected Hollywood blockbusters The Avengers, Spider-Man and Jurassic Park, Vicky asked him if director Francis Ford Coppola would like to offer him the American epic gangster film, The Godfather at his Mumbai-based studio. Mannat had come home.

Shahrukh said,Coppola went around a lot (Coppola visited a few times), but I told him, ‘I don’t need a godfather; I’m an outsider and not like anyone we know’ (pointing towards Vicky). Children of the industry, what are you looking here and there? (Nepo kid, why are you looking here and there)?”

While hosting the award show, Shahrukh Khan also talked about his flop films and called Jab Harry Met Sejal, his 2017 film, A mistake. When Vicky asked the ‘Badshah’ of Bollywood why he chose Imtiaz Ali’s film Jab Harry Met Sejal, he replied, “That was my second mistake. Everyone is allowed to make three mistakes. (That was my second mistake. Everyone is allowed to make three mistakes.)”

After this, Shahrukh Khan gave some career advice to Vicky and said, “Never do a picture whose title is in its story. (Never do a movie where the story is in the title.)’‘Harry Met Sejal’ picture finished (The movie ends). ‘Bade Mian Chhote Mian’ picture finished (Film ends).” Shahrukh also took the name of Vicky’s film The Great Indian Family and before he could finish his sentence, Vicky finished it for him by saying, “picture finished (Film ends).”

The spat between the two stars did not end here. Vicky Kaushal also brought Shah Rukh’s 1995 film ‘Guddu’, which failed at the box office. Embarrassed at the mention of the film, the 58-year-old actor said, “Which pages of history are you turning, friend? Please don’t remind me of all these things. I want to move forward, you are pulling me backward.” I pray to you with folded hands. (What pages of history are you turning? Don’t remind me of all this. I want to move forward; don’t pull me back. I beg you.)”

Shahrukh Khan took leave from films after the film Zero, released in 2018, flopped at the box office. He made a successful comeback in 2023 with Pathan, Jawan and Danki, all of which were well received by the audience.