Shah Rukh Khan has long been associated with a certain old school romance on screen, but filmmaker Anubhav Sinha believes the superstar’s impact went beyond cinema and into everyday behaviour within the industry. Ahead of the release of his next directorial, Assi, Sinha opened up about how films and film stars can create gradual social change, and he pointed to Shah Rukh Khan as a rare example of that influence in action.
Anubhav Sinha On Cinema’s Power To Create Change
Known for socially driven dramas like Mulk, Thappad, and Bheed, Sinha said change through cinema is often subtle and difficult to measure. While discussing whether movies can alter mindsets, he described the process as slow, but meaningful. In his view, even small habits repeated consistently by major stars can become aspirational cues for others.
To illustrate that, Sinha recalled noticing something he says he had not seen among leading men before Shah Rukh Khan’s rise.
‘Shah Rukh Khan Is Single-Handedly Responsible For This Chivalry’
Sinha said, “Before Shah Rukh Khan became the star that he is, I never saw a hero run down the steps to give the lady a hand to climb up. I never saw an actor do that.”
According to the director, the gesture became more common because the actor kept doing it over the years, turning it into a behavioural norm on sets and at events. Sinha added, “That is such aspirational conduct that now, you see it very often. Now, that’s a change. People are opening doors for women. Shah Rukh Khan is single-handedly responsible for this chivalry.”
Sinha also underlined that such shifts may happen even without intention, as long as influential public figures keep repeating what he calls the right conduct.
Shah Rukh Khan And Anubhav Sinha’s Ra.One Connection
Sinha previously directed Shah Rukh Khan in the 2011 sci fi film Ra.One, which also starred Arjun Rampal and Kareena Kapoor. While it was not positioned as his most successful theatrical outing at the time, the film has continued to find a loyal audience over the years, with its visual effects frequently cited among its strengths.
Assi Release Date And Cast Details
Sinha’s upcoming film Assi centres on the fight for justice of a rape survivor and her lawyer, while also examining what justice truly means. The film stars Taapsee Pannu as the lawyer and Kani Kusruti as the survivor.
Written by Gaurav Solanki, Assi also features Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Kumud Mishra, Supriya Pathak, and Manoj Pahwa, with cameos by Naseeruddin Shah and Divya Dutta. The film is produced by T Series and is set to release in theatres on 20 February.
(Also read: King Date Announcement: Shah Rukh Khan’s Larger Than Life Action Gets Aryan Khan’s ‘baap’ Reaction)!
Stay tuned with us for the latest news, Hindi box office news, Hollywood news, OTT news, the latest Bollywood news, and the latest box office news.
