Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has publicly praised superstar Shah Rukh Khan's performance in the 2004 film Swades, calling it 'uttam' (phenomenal) — and revealed he has told Khan the same in person, multiple times. The compliment came during a recent episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 18, which Bachchan hosts, while answering a question involving three of Khan's iconic roles.

What Bachchan Said on KBC

When contestant Bablu Kumar Pandit was posed a question related to Shah Rukh Khan, Bachchan paused to reflect on the actor's craft. 'Swades, unki joh picture thi mera aisa manna hai ki joh abhinay unhone Swades mein kia na, woh ekdm uttam tha, aur kai baar milte hai jab main unse yahi bolta hun,' Bachchan said on the show. In English, this translates to: the character portrayal by Shah Rukh Khan in Swades was phenomenal, and he has conveyed this to Khan whenever they have met.

Bachchan went on to explain the three roles at the heart of the question: 'Swades mein Shah Rukh Khan ne ek NASA vaigyanik ki bhumika nibhayi thi, aur Chak De! India mai hockey coach thein, aur Veer-Zaara mein IAF pilot.'

The Three Roles in Focus

The question spotlighted three of Shah Rukh Khan's most celebrated performances. In Swades (2004), he played Mohan Bhargava, an NRI NASA scientist who returns to rural India and reconnects with his roots. In Chak De! India, he portrayed Kabir Khan, the coach of the Indian women's national hockey team. In Veer-Zaara, he appeared as Squadron Leader Veer Pratap Singh of the Indian Air Force.

About Swades

Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, Swades was released in 2004 and starred Shah Rukh alongside debutant Gayatri Joshi. The film, centred on an NRI's emotional return to his homeland, earned widespread critical acclaim and is widely regarded as one of Khan's finest acting efforts — a view Bachchan's on-air remarks now reinforce with rare peer authority.

Bachchan at 83: Still Going Round the Clock

At 83, Amitabh Bachchan continues to maintain a punishing professional schedule. The actor has reportedly been working for 24 hours straight across multiple commitments, including the ongoing shoot of Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 18. His return as host of the long-running quiz show has been welcomed by audiences, with the new season already generating significant viewership buzz.

Bachchan's spontaneous on-air tribute to a contemporary's two-decade-old performance underscores the enduring cultural weight of Swades — and adds a rare moment of industry camaraderie to the season's early episodes.