Music composer and producer Abhijit Vaghani has revealed that a coffee recommendation from Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan — made during the making of the 2011 sci-fi film Ra.One — continues to be part of his daily studio ritual, more than 15 years later. Vaghani, who served as music producer for Ra.One's background score alongside composers Vishal-Shekhar, shared the anecdote while speaking at his studio in Andheri West, Mumbai.

The Nespresso Moment

Vaghani recalled that during the Ra.One recording sessions, Khan would arrive at the studio every day and quietly settle in the lounge — always with a cup of coffee in hand. A dedicated assistant would set up a Nespresso pod machine for him, with the pods imported from the United States, as they were not commercially available in India at the time.

'Once, I stepped out and he was having a cup of coffee. I asked him, 'What coffee are you having?' He said, 'okay, come sit',' Vaghani recounted. Khan then had his assistant demonstrate the machine. 'He said, see, this is this machine called Nespresso. You put a pod and coffee comes out in a second. And such beautiful coffee!' Vaghani said.

Vaghani was so taken by the experience that he purchased the exact same machine in the exact same colour — a unit that, he says, still sits outside his recording studio today.

A Star Who Asked Permission to Enter His Own Film's Studio

Beyond the coffee story, Vaghani painted a picture of Khan as unexpectedly understated on set. Despite being the film's lead actor and producer, Khan would reportedly stand outside Vaghani's studio room and ask, 'May I come in?' before entering.

'I was like, 'It is your movie. You are paying me. Please come',' Vaghani said, describing the gesture as emblematic of Khan's humility.

A Chance Encounter at YRF Studios

Vaghani also recalled a meeting at Yash Raj Films (YRF) studios roughly six months after the Ra.One collaboration — an encounter he had not expected to be memorable. Khan, spotting him, stepped out of his car to greet him personally and asked what he was doing there.

'There are such fond memories of these people, who you think are completely inaccessible, but they are such good people,' Vaghani said.

Vaghani noted that his connection with Khan predated Ra.One, having crossed paths at Yash Raj while working on Dhoom. With 27 years in the industry, Vaghani described his association with Khan as 'very sweet.'

Why the Story Resonates

The anecdote offers a rare, candid window into the working culture around one of Bollywood's biggest productions — and into the off-screen persona of its lead. For fans and industry observers alike, such first-hand accounts from collaborators carry weight precisely because they surface details that promotional circuits rarely reveal. As Ra.One marks its place in Bollywood's sci-fi history, stories like Vaghani's add texture to the film's legacy beyond its box-office numbers.