Actress Renuka Shahane recently shared a delightfully funny story about her early days working with Shah Rukh Khan on the 1989–1990 television series 'Circus' — and the tale had Madhuri Dixit in fits of laughter during a recent episode of the Marathi quiz reality show 'Kon Hara Crorepati'.

The Anecdote That Had Madhuri in Stitches

Renuka recalled how director Aziz Mirza — whom she affectionately calls 'Aziz Uncle' — had advised both her and the young Shah Rukh to work on their Hindi diction during the shoot. For Renuka, the concern was her Marathi accent. For Shah Rukh, it evidently triggered a bout of self-consciousness.

'After we had shot a few scenes of Circus, Aziz Uncle told me, ‘To get rid of your Marathi accent, you should speak more in Hindi.’ He told Shah Rukh the same thing, and Shah Rukh got quite nervous about it,' Renuka said on the show.

The nerves, she recalled, produced one unforgettable flub. Mid-scene, Shah Rukh — playing opposite Renuka — delivered the line: 'Maria, mujhe maloom hai tum mujhse anaar ho' instead of the intended 'naraaz ho'. The mix-up swapped the word for ‘upset’ with the Hindi word for pomegranate — 'anaar' — turning a dramatic moment into an accidental comedy.

A Reunion on 'Kon Hara Crorepati'

The episode of 'Kon Hara Crorepati', hosted by Madhuri Dixit, also featured actress Priya Berde, making it a notable reunion of three actors who had shared the screen in the iconic 1994 film 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun'. The Sooraj Barjatya directorial starred Madhuri Dixit, Salman Khan, Renuka Shahane, and Mohnish Bahl in pivotal roles.

During the same appearance, Madhuri revisited the making of the beloved flower sequence in the song 'Didi Tera Devar Deewana', revealing it required 15 takes to get right — a behind-the-scenes detail that underscores the craftsmanship behind one of Hindi cinema's most cherished moments.

Shah Rukh Khan's Early Days on 'Circus'

The television series 'Circus', co-directed by Aziz Mirza and Kundan Shah, aired between 1989 and 1990 and followed the lives of people associated with a travelling circus. It was among Shah Rukh's earliest prominent roles on television, before he became a dominant force in Hindi cinema.

Alongside 'Fauji' and 'Dil Dariya', 'Circus' is considered a foundational chapter in Shah Rukh Khan's career, offering early audiences a glimpse of the energy and charisma that would go on to define a generation of Indian cinema.

Why the Story Resonates

The anecdote is a rare, candid window into a pre-superstar Shah Rukh — nervous, eager, and very much a work in progress. It also highlights the warmth and camaraderie that reportedly defined the 'Circus' set, and the formative influence of director Aziz Mirza, who would later collaborate with Shah Rukh on the blockbuster 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' spin-off projects. The reunion of Madhuri, Renuka, and Priya on national television adds a nostalgic dimension that audiences of a certain era will find deeply resonant.