When Shah Rukh Khan addressed the long-running debate between Bollywood and South Indian cinema, his words reflected admiration and respect.Speaking at the 77th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland in the year 2024, where he received the prestigious Pardo alla Carriera Ascona-Locarno award—the actor said he disliked the idea of “regionalizing” Indian cinema. He highlighted that India’s vast linguistic and cultural diversity only enriches its cinematic identity. “It’s all Indian cinema, and some of the greatest storytelling in India comes from the South,” he said, emphasizing unity over comparison.
Experience working with Atlee on ‘Jawan’
Sharing his experience collaborating with director Atlee on Jawan, SRK said it was an exciting creative shift for him. “South cinema has its own rhythm—grand heroes, music, and emotions. I really enjoyed that process. It was new for me, and I even asked my kids if I looked good because it felt like being part of something epic,” he said.
Acknowledging south cinema’s global impact
King Khan went on to applaud South Indian filmmakers for their artistic and technical excellence. “Cinematically and technically, South cinema is really fantastic,” he remarked. Pointing to the success of ‘RRR’, ‘Baahubali’, and ‘Jawan’, he noted that these films have demonstrated India’s global storytelling potential. According to him, South cinema’s conviction, innovation, and larger-than-life execution have set new creative standards for the industry.On the other hand, SRK recently played a cameo role in Aryan Khan’s debut series ‘The ‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood’ which received much praises from the viewers.
