Shah Rukh Khan's 'Happy New Year' KBC story: Why he stopped himself from scolding Abhishek, Vivaan
Synopsis
Shah Rukh Khan once marched up to scold Abhishek Bachchan and Vivaan Shah on the 'Happy New Year' set — and then stopped cold when he remembered their fathers are Amitabh Bachchan and Naseeruddin Shah. The punchline, delivered live to Amitabh on KBC, became one of Bollywood's most-retold behind-the-scenes moments.
Key Takeaways
Shah Rukh Khan shared the anecdote on 'Kaun Banega Crorepati' during the promotional tour for 'Happy New Year' in 2014 .
Director Farah Khan complained to SRK that Abhishek Bachchan and Vivaan Shah were being disruptive on set and repeatedly posting her photos on Twitter.
SRK headed over to scold them but stopped when he recalled that their fathers are Amitabh Bachchan and Naseeruddin Shah respectively.
His punchline — 'if their fathers couldn't teach them, what could I?' — was delivered directly in front of Amitabh Bachchan , the KBC host. 'Happy New Year' was directed by Farah Khan and released in October 2014 .
Shah Rukh Khan once revealed a hilarious backstage incident from the sets of 'Happy New Year' (2014) during a celebrity episode of 'Kaun Banega Crorepati', where the film's cast appeared for promotional purposes. The anecdote, involving director Farah Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, and Vivaan Shah, gave host Amitabh Bachchan — and the audience — a reason to laugh out loud.
Farah Khan's Complaint on Set
According to Shah Rukh, director Farah Khan approached him during the shoot of 'Happy New Year' with a serious grievance about two of the film's actors. She told him that Abhishek Bachchan and Vivaan Shah were being disruptive on set — chatting constantly, staying distracted, and repeatedly photographing her and posting the pictures on Twitter.
Shah Rukh recounted Farah's exact words: 'Abhishek aur Vivaan jo hai dono k dono bahut pareshan kar rahe hain, distracted rehte hain, baat cheet kar rahe hain, tang kar rahe hain. Baar baar meri photo leke Twitter pe daal rahe hain.' She urged him, as the senior-most member of the cast, to step in and have a word with the two.
SRK's Initial Reaction
Shah Rukh's first response was to brush the matter aside, telling Farah to be patient. 'Maine kaha nahi Farah bacche hai yaar aese thodei na hota hai yaar, hojayega,' he said — essentially asking her to relax, calling Abhishek and Vivaan 'kids' who would eventually settle down.
However, when Farah pressed him a second time, he relented and decided to go confront them himself. He described heading over with full determination — ready to deliver a firm talking-to.
The Realisation That Changed Everything
Just as he was about to launch into his reprimand, Shah Rukh had a sudden, comic moment of clarity. As he recalled on KBC: 'Main bolne ko shuru hua phir mujhe dimaag m aya ki Abhishek Bachchan k jo daddy hai woh Mr Amitabh Bachchan hai. Phir aya ki Vivaan k jo daddy hai woh Mr Naseeruddin Shah hai. Phir mere dimaag m aya ki agar inke baap inko nahi sikha sake toh main kya sikhaunga?'
The punchline — that if the fathers of these two, namely Amitabh Bachchan and Naseeruddin Shah, two of Indian cinema's most legendary actors, had not managed to instil discipline in their sons, there was little chance of Shah Rukh succeeding — brought the house down.
The Bigger Picture: Bollywood's Legacy Families on One Set
The anecdote is a rare glimpse into the off-camera camaraderie — and chaos — that defined the 'Happy New Year' shoot. The film, directed by Farah Khan and released in October 2014, brought together an unusually star-studded ensemble including Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Boman Irani, Sonu Sood, and Vivaan Shah.
Notably, the KBC episode placed Shah Rukh in the unusual position of narrating a story about misbehaviour to the very father of one of the accused — Amitabh Bachchan himself sat across the desk as host. The meta-irony was not lost on viewers.
Point of View
But it also casually acknowledges the industry's dynastic architecture. Shah Rukh invoking Amitabh Bachchan and Naseeruddin Shah as the ultimate authority figures — while sitting across from Amitabh himself — is sharp, unrehearsed comedy that no scriptwriter could have planned. What the moment also quietly does is frame Bollywood's legacy families not as privilege, but as an impossible standard to live up to, which is a more generous read than most public discourse on nepotism allows.
NationPress
1 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story Shah Rukh Khan told on KBC about Abhishek Bachchan and Vivaan Shah?
Shah Rukh Khan revealed on 'Kaun Banega Crorepati' that director Farah Khan asked him to scold Abhishek Bachchan and Vivaan Shah for being disruptive on the 'Happy New Year' set. He stopped himself when he realised their fathers — Amitabh Bachchan and Naseeruddin Shah — were two of Indian cinema's greatest actors, reasoning that if they hadn't managed to discipline their sons, he stood no chance.
When did the 'Happy New Year' cast appear on KBC?
The cast of 'Happy New Year' appeared on 'Kaun Banega Crorepati' in 2014 as part of the film's promotional campaign. Amitabh Bachchan was the host of the show at the time, which added an extra layer of irony to Shah Rukh's anecdote.
What was Farah Khan's complaint about Abhishek Bachchan and Vivaan Shah?
According to Shah Rukh Khan, Farah Khan complained that Abhishek Bachchan and Vivaan Shah were constantly chatting, remaining distracted on set, and repeatedly photographing her and uploading the pictures to Twitter. She asked Shah Rukh to intervene as the senior cast member.
Who are Vivaan Shah's parents?
Vivaan Shah is the son of veteran actors Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah. His father Naseeruddin Shah is one of Indian cinema's most acclaimed performers, which was the key part of Shah Rukh's punchline on KBC.
What was 'Happy New Year' about and when did it release?
'Happy New Year' is a 2014 Bollywood heist-comedy directed by Farah Khan, featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Boman Irani, Sonu Sood, and Vivaan Shah. It released in October 2014 and was one of the major Bollywood releases of that year.
