Shah Rukh Khan reveals why he turned down ‘Slumdog Millionaire’: ‘Tell Danny Boyle I didn’t like it…’

Shah Rukh Khan has confirmed that he has been roped in to star in the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire. Speaking at the World Government Summit 2024 in Dubai, the actor confirmed that Danny Boyle had offered him the role and opened up about working in Hollywood. But he turned down the role, which eventually went to Anil Kapoor’s kitty. Coincidentally, SRK was hosting Who Wants to Be a Millionaire aka Kaun Banega Crorepati in India when Danny Boyle offered him the role.

Speaking at the event, Shah Rukh said: “Yes, now that you mentioned it, Slumdog was there. I spent a lot of time with Mr Boyle. He was lovely. But I was acting on TV at the time Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Kaun Banega Crorepati) and it was a success. I just felt like the people who were hosting it were very mean in the story that was being told.”

SRK confirmed that the producers of Kaun Banega Crorepati recommended his name to star in the film. But he wasn’t keen on pursuing the role because the host in the film was considered a dishonest person. “I cheated and was dishonest as a host (in the movie). So I found out that I was cheating in the movie as a host at KBC, which was weird. So I explained to Mr. Boyle that I didn’t want to do that, please, There are better actors than me. I think Anil Kapoor sir did it, he was great as the host,” he added.

Talking about working in Hollywood, Shah Rukh said that although talks have been held, no concrete offers have been received. “I tell the truth, but no one believes it. So I’m going to be very, very honest with you. No one has ever offered me any work. Material crossover. I’ve probably had conversations with people I know, a lot of them from the West , British film industry, American film industry. But no one offered me any good job,” said Shah Rukh, one of only two Indians invited to attend the 2024 World Government Summit.