According to Shah Rukh Khan himself, the perceived rivalry between him and Amitabh Bachchan was primarily a creation of the media. In an older interview, Shah Rukh Khan shared insights into the so-called “cold war” and addressed the alleged rivalry between them.
During a 2007 interview with Rediff, Shah Rukh Khan responded to questions about the supposed rivalry between him and Mr. Bachchan. He refuted any such rivalry, stating that there were no issues between them at all.
When questioned whether the rivalry between Amitabh and him was entirely fabricated by the media, Shah Rukh Khan commented, “I think so, absolutely. They have been trying it for a long time, and finally they have had some sort of success. So my congratulations. But as far as I am concerned, and I am sure Mr. Bachchan is concerned, we have no issues at all.”
He further elaborated, “I think I have said this before, we are quite educated, cultured, graceful, doing well in our lives and professions kind of people. We worked together in a huge amount of successful films, and some really nice, enjoyable work together, as recently as KANK (Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, 2006). You know, it’s very strange, it does get a little embarrassing more than anything else… You know, entertainment has become part of news, and news has become part of entertainment now.”
The perception of rivalry between the two actors arose when Shah Rukh starred in the remake of one of Amitabh’s iconic films, Don (1978). Shah Rukh Khan appeared in Farhan Akhtar’s Don (2006) and Don 2 (2011).
Furthermore, while Amitabh Bachchan was synonymous with Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), one of Indian television’s most enduring and successful game shows, Shah Rukh Khan took over as the host for one season in 2007.
Despite these instances, Shah Rukh and Amitabh have collaborated on several successful films, including Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), among others. They also reunited for an advertisement in 2023.
