Jaideep Ahlawat, known for his powerful performances in projects like "Paatal Lok," has confirmed his participation in Shah Rukh Khan's upcoming film, "King." In a recent interview, Ahlawat revealed that he couldn't refuse the offer to work with SRK, even though it meant having to turn down a role in Ranbir Kapoor's "Ramayana" due to scheduling conflicts.
Ahlawat shared that Shah Rukh Khan was instrumental in getting him on board for "King." According to Ahlawat, SRK had been considering him for the project for a while. However, director Siddharth Anand was initially hesitant to offer him the role because it was relatively small, especially after Ahlawat's prominent role in "Jewel Thief." But Shah Rukh Khan, being the superstar that he is, personally intervened. Ahlawat quoted SRK saying, "I'll talk to him." Overwhelmed by the warmth and respect he felt from Khan, Ahlawat said that he couldn't possibly say no to the offer.
Ahlawat also expressed his admiration for Shah Rukh Khan, recalling their previous interactions. Their first meeting was during the shoot of "Raees," where they worked together for a few days. Since then, every meeting has been full of warmth and respect. Ahlawat said that SRK has a way of making you feel like you are the closest person to him and that he is a wonderful human being with amazing qualities. He also stated that every time he’s met SRK, he’s felt important.
"King" is directed by Siddharth Anand and is one of the most anticipated Bollywood films slated for release next year. The film not only marks Shah Rukh Khan's return after a successful run with "Pathaan," "Jawan," and "Dunki" in 2023 but also features his daughter Suhana Khan, marking her on-screen debut. The film is reportedly a gangster film, with SRK playing a massier role than he did in "Raees". The cast also includes Saurabh Shukla, with potential appearances from other Bollywood stars like Deepika Padukone, Rani Mukerji, Abhishek Bachchan, Jackie Shroff, Raghav Juyal, and Anil Kapoor.
In the same interview, Ahlawat addressed why he couldn't be a part of Nitesh Tiwari's "Ramayana." He revealed that he was offered the role of Vibhishan, Ravana's brother, but had to decline due to scheduling conflicts. He explained that the dates required for Vibhishan's scenes clashed with his other commitments, and since those scenes required Ravana's presence, he assumed Ravana's dates were more important. Ahlawat also confirmed that Yash of "KGF" fame would be portraying Ravana in the film. The movie stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Sai Pallavi as Maa Sita. There are also reports suggesting that Amitabh Bachchan, Vivek Oberoi, Mohit Raina, and Sunny Deol are also set to join the cast.
Jaideep Ahlawat has several other projects lined up, including "Paatal Lok" Season 2, "Jewel Thief," "Hisaab," "The Family Man" Season 3, "Rakt Bramhand," "Hawai Fire," and "Ikkis". "Jewel Thief", a neo-noir thriller directed by Siddharth Anand, is slated to release in 2025 and will see Jaideep sharing screen space with Saif Ali Khan. "Ikkis" is expected to be released on October 2, 2025, and will feature Jaideep alongside Dharmendra and Agastya Nanda.
