Vishal Punjabi, aka the Wedding Filmer, recalled that Shah Rukh Khan worked tirelessly when he was deported from India.
Vishal Punjabi, better known as The Wedding Filmer, spoke about his decade-long experience working with Shah Rukh Khan before he launched his business. Vishal said that he was ready to make a movie with Shah Rukh and Priyanka Chopra in the lead roles, when he was deported from India for working on a tourist visa. He said that Shah Rukh tried to pull some strings, but nothing worked. In fact, Shah Rukh came under the government’s scrutiny because of him.
Appearing on the Brown Game Strong YouTube channel, Vishal recalled that he reached out to Shah Rukh for a separate job because he was such a big fan, but was eventually roped in to work at the actor’s Red Chillies Entertainment banner. “He’s an amazing person, a great mentor. I did really well under his shadow. For 10 years, I learned everything that I could,” he said.
Vishal continued, “Then, in 2007, I was about to make a big Bollywood film. I had written the script with a friend of mine called Zoya Akhtar. She’s a big director now, but at the time, she was struggling to make her first film… Priyanka had said yes to my film, Shah Rukh had said yes to my film. Me and Reema and Zoya were kicked about it. And then I got deported from India because I didn’t have an OCI. I had a tourist visa, and I was technically not allowed to work on a tourist visa. It was very stupid of me, because I thought it’s India, they’d fix it.”
Vishal said that he suffered immensely, but so did Shah Rukh. “I got deported, and there was nothing anybody could do. The fact that I worked with Shah Rukh made my case worse because he was under scrutiny. For some reason, governments aren’t very kind to him, I think it has to do with his religion. It was heartbreaking for him as well because I was in charge of a lot of big projects for him. He tried everything that he could to see me come back… I went through a very hard time, but he worked tirelessly to get me back…”
Vishal said that after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the ‘government changed overnight’, and people who were kinder to Shah Rukh came to power. Based on some very strong recommendations from powerful people, Vishal’s deportation was revoked, and he was allowed to work in India again.
News
‘More Aggression than Kohli’: Why Gold Medalist Navdeep is Being Called ‘Virat Kohli of Paralympics’
In the wake of his dramatic victory, javelin thrower Navdeep has been drawing comparisons to Indian cricketer Virat Kohli. Navdeep and Virat Kohli | Image: x.com In a thrilling turn of events at the Paris Paralympics on September 7, India secured its…
Virat Kohli or Joe Root? Dinesh Karthik discloses reasons behind his choice for best Test batter
Joe Root, Dinesh Karthik and Virat Kohli (Video Grab) NEW DELHI: Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has chosen Virat Kohli over Joe Root as the best Test batter of the current generation, despite Root’s superior statistical record. Karthik’s preference is based on his close association with…
Star-Studded Ganesh Chaturthi at the Ambanis: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, and More in a Spectacular Celebration – Watch the Exclusive Moments!
Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani’s first Ganesh Chaturthi celebration saw many celebrities from Bollywood in attendance. Celebrities at the Ambanis’ Ganesh Chaturthi celebration. (Photos: Varinder Chawla) Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 was celebrated in the country on Saturday and while the enthusiasm was…
Why Australia’s Alyssa Healy put Virat Kohli at the bottom of Fab Four?
Kohli has the lowest Test average among Kane Williamson, Joe Root and Steve Smith Indian cricketer Virat Kohli. (FILE photo) The debate about who is the better batter among the fab four among Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, and…
Aishwarya Rai and Aaradhya’s return to Mumbai, along with Amitabh Bachchan’s cryptic social media post, is generating mixed reactions.
Amitabh Bachchan shares cryptic post hours after Aishwarya Rai Bachchan returns to India with Aaradhya Amitabh Bachchan shared a post about deep emotions hours after Aishwarya Rai Bachchan returns to India. Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan is currently busy shooting for Kaun Banega Crorepati…
“I will place Virat Kohli at the fourth position among the Fab 4”: Australia skipper Alyssa Healy
Australia women’s team skipper Alyssa Healy heaped praise on Virat Kohli but placed him in the fourth spot among the Fab 4. Australia women’s team skipper Alyssa Healy heaped praise on Virat Kohli but placed him in the fourth spot among the…
End of content
No more pages to load