I hope my stardom doesn't let 'Dear Zindagi' down: SRK

Shah Rukh Khan hopes his stardom doesn't' come in the way of success of his upcoming "Dear Zindagi", in which Alia Bhatt plays the lead role and he has an extended cameo.
"Because this film has been done so wonderfully by both Gauri (director) and Alia. I hope I don't let them down. I hope me and my stardom don't let it down. I have a role which is very important and so are all the others characters," he said.
The 51-year-old actor said he has always tried to do different things in his career and this film is one step in that direction.

"I haven't been able to assure that a star vehicle of mine will make people come and watch it. I do hear noises and voices sometimes about my decision to do films. I hear that I should be part of other stuff and not just star vehicles. I have done all that in my career but I want to do more and this is one step in that direction," Shah Rukh said.
According to the "Fan" star, he has never played such a role in his over 25-year career and is glad that director Gauri Shinde decided to cast him in the movie.

"I am a support in the film, more like an extended cameo. I am very glad to be in this film. I have never played such a role in my entire career. In the film, many questions about life have been asked which we normally don't face- about ups and downs of life."

Shinde, who has previously directed acclaimed film "English Vinglish", said she only imagined SRK in the role of Dr Jahangir Khan and could not have cast anyone else.
"It had to be him. I haven't thought of anybody else. While writing I pictured him," she said.
Talking about her role, Alia said this is the most relatable character she has ever played.

"I relate to Kyra more than any character I have related to. I think a lot of young people will relate to. She has a lot of insecurities that she has to go through. She is moody so am I. I am not as impulsive as her. I am a little less but I related a lot to the way she thinks."
"Dear Zindagi" is produced by Gauri Khan, Karan Johar and Shinde under the banners of Red Chillies Entertainment, Dharma Productions and Hope Productions respectively.
It also stars Ira Dubey, Kunal Kapoor, Ali Zafar and Angad Bedi.
Shah Rukh said the beauty of "Dear Zindagi is that it has been made by confident women.

From 2013 till 2015, Shah Rukh featured in three
consecutive commercial movies - "Chennai Express", "Happy New Year" and "Dilwale".
However, since last year, the actor has been part of films which are dramatically different from what he is known for, be it "Fan" - a film with no song and dance or romance - or "Dear Zindagi", where he plays a supporting character to Alia Bhatt, sans any love story, a trademark in most of his movies.
The actor is now ready with "Raees", a crime drama set in Gujarat in 1970s where he plays a bootlegger, a character he has never enacted before.

Shah Rukh says he is quite aware of the expectations people have from him and feels, perhaps, it's only fair.
"When you reach a stage where I have reached, you have to assume that people expect a lot more from you. Perhaps, more than what you can do.
"If I have become a star with limited talent, or whatever I think of myself in twenty five years, I need to believe that people have given me so much. They expect some of it back," he adds.
Directed by Rahul Dholakia, "Raees" is scheduled to hit the screens on January 25.