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Director Admits Star Power Mishandled in Zero
13 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Director Aanand L Rai took responsibility for Zero's box office failure.
- He failed to effectively blend Shah Rukh Khan's superstar persona.
- Rai realized much later the need to accommodate the star's image.
Filmmaker Aanand L Rai has openly discussed the commercial shortcomings of his 2018 film, Zero. He candidly stated that he did not succeed in harmonizing Shah Rukh Khan's established superstar persona with the character as written.
Rai confessed that he realized belatedly that he needed to manage and incorporate the star's image into the film. He noted that while his films often feature characters without overt star baggage, he missed integrating a part of the star's persona, which audiences often desire.
Despite the film's outcome, Rai described his collaboration with Shah Rukh Khan as rewarding. He suggested that the team should have collectively recognized the presence of a star, not just an actor, and adjusted accordingly. However, he attributed the oversight to the actor not explicitly raising this concern.
