In a recently resurfaced anecdote, the late Dev Anand, a legendary figure of Indian cinema, once expressed his concern to Shah Rukh Khan regarding his smoking habit. The incident, recalled by Mohan Churiwala, a close friend of Dev Anand, took place at a party hosted by Anil Ambani in 2009 to celebrate Reliance Entertainment's joint venture with Steven Spielberg.

According to Churiwala, Dev Anand noticed Shah Rukh Khan sitting in a row and bending down to exhale smoke. Approaching the actor, Dev Anand gently chided him, saying, "Shah Rukh yaar, tu kyun smoke karta hai? Tu kitna achha ladka hai. Chhod de, isko chhod de". This translates to: "Shah Rukh, why do you smoke? You are such a nice boy. Leave it, give it up".

Shah Rukh Khan, known for his respect towards seniors in the industry, responded to Dev Anand with a smile, assuring him that he would try to quit smoking. The exchange highlights the endearing relationship and mutual respect between the two iconic stars from different generations. Both actors were leading men of their time, with a zeal for life. Dev Anand continued to act and direct movies until his death in 2011.

Notably, Shah Rukh Khan has been open about his smoking in the past. In 2024, he revealed to his fans that he had finally quit smoking due to experiencing breathing difficulties.

The anecdote provides a glimpse into the personal interactions between Bollywood stars and reveals Dev Anand's caring nature and his influence on younger actors. It also showcases Shah Rukh Khan's receptiveness to advice and his eventual commitment to quitting smoking for health reasons.