Shah Rukh Khan is the biggest star: Shivani
Shivani Raghuvanshi, who shot to fame with Titli (2014), is all pumped for her short film that also stars Kajol, among others. Ask her about her experience of shooting with the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) star and an excited Shivani says, “When I was reading my scenes with Kajol ma’am and then shooting with her, I was so star struck and the song Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye kept playing on my mind. When Titli was nominated at award shows, I got to see a lot of film stars there. But I haven’t been as star struck by anyone other than her.”
Although intimidated at first, the Made In Heaven actor says that her happiness knew no bounds when she began working with Kajol. “I was so scared thinking that I won’t be able to concentrate at all. So, I went up to her and said to her, ‘Ma’am, me being calm and composed for the last few days, has all been part of an act.’ I also told her that if I work with Shah Rukh (Khan) sir, it’ll take me two whole days to calm myself down and talk to him,” she shares with a laugh.
For Shivani, Shah Rukh and Kajol are more than actors. She says, “They were the quintessential hero and heroine for us. Shah Rukh sir is the biggest star. Everyone wants to be like him. He didn’t know anyone in the industry when he started out.”
She adds, “I’ve never met him but the people I know who’ve worked with him talk about the way in which he behaves with people around him and how he makes his co-actors feel. Despite being a big star, he’s extremely sweet and his magnanimity lies in his simplicity. He’s just like us but at the same time, you feel like there’s a parallel world where he belongs. He’s ideal in a lot of ways. The kind of stardom that they enjoyed back in the day is rare today because we’re churning out so many films a year.”