Shah Rukh Khan asked Zayed Khan ‘can you act?’ before casting him in Main Hoon Na: ‘Mujhe bura laga’

Zayed Khan opened up about the casting process for Main Hoon Na, which co-starred Shah Rukh Khan. The film was released in 2004.

Main Hoon Na, directed by Farah Khan, released in 2004. The film starred Shah Rukh Khan along with an ensemble cast that included Zayed Khan, Suniel Shetty and Sushmita Sen. In an interview with YouTube channel Couple of Things, Zayed has now shared how he landed the role. Shah Rukh even asked him before the casting was finalized, ‘Can you act?’ and he admits that he felt bad at that time. (Also read: Zayed Khan shares Main Hoon Na co-star Shah Rukh Khan used to hate that he would lose in this video game)

What Shah Rukh said to Zayed

Zayen Khan and Shah Rukh Khan in a still from Main Hoon Na.

During the interview, Zayed said that Farah called him to meet at Shah Rukh Khan's office. He added, “Farah looks at me and I tell her that ‘Farah, firstly, I don’t know why am I here but… She says ‘just shut up for two minutes’. I felt she is very rude. I am like trying my level best to make conversation and Shah Rukh walks in. He is usual Shah Rukh, very sweet, very loving, very well-mannered”

‘Kya tum actor ho?'

He went on to say, “I was just listening to him but couldn’t really compute. Then he says that we have called you about the second lead part in Main Hoon Na I couldn’t say anything so he goes ‘yeh sab idhar udhar ki baatein band karte hain (Let's eave all these unimportant things), I just want to ask one question ‘Kya tum actor ho? Acting kar sakte ho?’ Mujhe bada bura laga ki aise mujhse kisine aise baat kia (I felt bad when he asked whether I can act). Maine bola I was born to act. It came from a point of view that I wasn’t trying to be arrogant or anything. I was feeling very bad that he asked me that can you act? I wanted to ask him can you act? When I answered, he just chucked the question.”