Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani has offered a rare glimpse into Shah Rukh Khan's work ethic, revealing that the superstar approaches every role with the hunger of a first-time actor — recording his rehearsals on his phone and sending them to the director daily for feedback. The disclosure came during a candid conversation about what separates dedicated performers from those who coast on stardom.

The Newcomer Habit That Surprised Hirani

Hirani recalled being struck by Khan's practice during their collaboration on the 2023 comedy-drama Dunki. 'When you work with him, it is like he used to send me rehearsals like a newcomer. He used to record his shooting rehearsals on his phone every day and send me. I used to feel like I was working with a newcomer,' Hirani said.

The habit — self-recording, self-reviewing, and actively seeking a director's eye even between shoot days — is unusual for an actor of Khan's stature and three-decade career. Hirani noted that it fundamentally altered the texture of their working relationship.

Dedication Cuts Across Generations, Hirani Says

Asked whether older actors are more patient than younger ones, Hirani pushed back against the generational framing. 'I feel that this fight is not of old or new generation actors. It is an attitude of individuals,' he said.

He drew on his own filmography to make the point: 'I have worked with Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Sanjay Dutt, and Arshad Warsi. So, they are extremely dedicated to their work. I have worked with Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal. I find the same amount of dedication in them. So, it is a personal attitude of a person.'

He added that the contrast is not between eras but between individuals: 'Someone's attitude is like, I am tired. They keep cribbing on the set.'

Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal Also Cited

Hirani extended his praise beyond Khan, noting that both Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal brought comparable intensity to their craft. 'Ranbir used to come to do his make-up at 3 o'clock. Vicky used to sit and work with me. There is a tremendous amount of dedication that they also had,' he said. He acknowledged, however, that 'there are other kinds of actors who limit themselves.'

The Dunki Context

Hirani and Khan's collaboration on Dunki, released in December 2023, was the director's first film with the actor. The film, which explored the theme of illegal immigration, performed respectably at the box office despite releasing in the same crowded holiday window as other major titles. Hirani's remarks suggest that the partnership was as much a creative education for him as it was a professional milestone for Khan.

Whether Khan's phone-rehearsal habit becomes a talking point for younger actors looking to extend their careers remains to be seen — but Hirani's account makes a compelling case that longevity in Bollywood is less about natural talent and more about the willingness to remain a student.