Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar are two of the biggest names in Bollywood, both having started their careers in the early 1990s and enjoying massive fan followings. Despite their similar career timelines and the constant desire of fans to see them share the screen, they have very rarely worked together. The closest they came to a full-fledged collaboration was when Akshay Kumar made a guest appearance in the 1997 film "Dil To Pagal Hai," which starred Shah Rukh Khan alongside Madhuri Dixit and Karisma Kapoor.

The question of why these two superstars haven't collaborated more often has been a topic of much discussion and speculation. In an old interview with DNA, Shah Rukh Khan addressed this very question with his characteristic wit and humor, providing a rather relatable explanation.

When asked if he could take on multiple films a year like Akshay Kumar and potentially work with him, SRK responded, "What do I say to this? I don't wake up as early as him. I go to sleep when Akshay is waking up. His day starts early. By the time I start working, he is packing up and going home. So he can put in more hours of work. I'm a nocturnal person. Not many people are fond of shooting at night like me.”

He further added that it would be "fun" to work with Akshay Kumar, but their contrasting sleep schedules make it difficult for them to coordinate on set. Shah Rukh jokingly said that if he and Akshay were to work together, they would probably never meet on set. "It will be fun to act with Akshay. Dono set pe hi nahin milenge. Woh jaa raha hoga aur main aa raha hounga (We won't even meet on the sets. He'll be leaving the set, and I'll be arriving)," he quipped. He acknowledged that while he would like to work like Akshay and with him, their timings simply wouldn't match.

Akshay Kumar is well-known for his disciplined lifestyle and early morning work ethic. He is known to be punctual, which is one of the reasons why many directors prefer working with him. Shah Rukh Khan, on the other hand, is known to be a night owl, preferring to work late into the night.

So, it seems that the primary reason for Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar's lack of collaborations is simply a matter of conflicting schedules and working styles. While both actors have expressed a desire to work together, their contrasting routines make it a logistical challenge.

On the work front, Shah Rukh Khan is gearing up for his much-awaited film "King," directed by Siddharth Anand. This action-packed project will mark the first time SRK shares screen space with his daughter, Suhana Khan, making it a highly anticipated release for fans. The film also boasts a star-studded cast, including Deepika Padukone, Rani Mukerji, Abhishek Bachchan, Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, Arshad Warsi, Abhay Verma, and Saurabh Shukla in key roles. "King" is slated for a theatrical release in the last quarter of 2026 and will showcase Shah Rukh Khan in a never-seen-before avatar as a deadly assassin.

Akshay Kumar, on the other hand, is receiving praise for his recently released film "Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh."