Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Dubai have a connection that is well-known to all. As King Khan's Jawan film is set to release in theatres soon, the Arab city is leaving no stone unturned to create a frenzy among fans.
On Thursday, SRK visited Dubai to promote the film with director Atlee and music composer Anirudh Ravichander. And guess what? The trailer for his much-awaited action flick was played at the world's tallest building Burj Khalifa. Fans gathered in big numbers to watch this iconic moment in SRK's presence.
Dressed up in a black T-shirt and matching denims paired with a red jacket and sunglasses, SRK looked uber cool while he promoted the film in Dubai.
In one of the videos, SRK is also seen delivering popular dialogues from 'Jawan'.
“To all the parents here, bete ko haath lagane se pahle baap se baat kar (Before touching the son, talk to the father),” SRK said and went on to wish all his fans good health.
He also said his another dialogue, “Main kaun hoon. Kaun nahi. Pata nahi. Maa ko kiya wada hoon. Ya adhoora ik iraada hoon. Main achha hoon. Bura hoon. Punya hoon yaa paap hoon. Ye khud se puchna. Kyunki main bhi aap hoon."
This is not the actor's first film whose trailer was showcased at Burj Khalifa. Earlier in January 2023, the Pathaan trailer was also played there amidst fanfare.
Before Dubai, SRK attended a pre-release event in Chennai and also paid obeisance at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
Helmed by Atlee, Jawan also stars Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupathi in the lead roles.
Deepika Padukone has a special role in the movie, which will hit the cinema halls on September 7. Priyamani, Sanya Malhotra, Sunil Grover, Eijaz Khan, and Ridhi Dogra are also a part of the Jawan cast.
The actress defended her claim that acting demands more than desk jobs in a recent interview.
She said office workers can "chill out" during work hours, unlike film stars.
Fans and working professionals called her comments privileged and out of touch.
The backlash started after her appearance on Amazon Prime's Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle.
Critics pointed out the financial gap and support systems actors have compared to regular employees.
Kajol probably didn't expect this reaction when she sat down with Twinkle Khanna on Two Much. But her comments about actors working harder than people with 9-to-5 jobs have blown up, and not in a good way.
Fans slam Kajol after she says actors work harder than regular employees sparking online outrage Getty Images
The comments that started it all
Kajol was speaking out about her earlier comments on Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle on Amazon Prime, where she said actors work harder than most people. This time she was explaining why she thinks that.
She told The Hollywood Reporter India that her days are full of shoots, events, and very early flights. One day involved waking at 5 AM to catch a flight to Jaipur for a 3 PM event.
But it was her take on regular jobs that got people talking. She claimed desk workers don't need to be "100% present" and can take breaks, "chill out," and relax while working. She kept coming back to the unending scrutiny actors face like the feeling of always being watched or something as simple as how you cross your legs or who's snapping a picture in the background becomes a constant calculation. You have to be switched on, she insisted, all the time.
The internet, frankly, was having none of it. YouTube and Reddit exploded with responses. "For the kind of remuneration actors are paid, they shouldn't have a problem working 12 hours a day for 4 days a week," one user wrote. Another pointed out that films typically take 3-4 months to shoot, while regular jobs run year-round.
The responses got more pointed. "Vanity mein naps or massages bhi toh hum lete hain," a Reddit user commented, referencing the comfort of vanity vans. Someone else joked: "If you work poorly, you get fired. If you act poorly, you get a Filmfare award."
The bluntest response yet? "Respectfully, Kajol, shut up."
Nobody denies acting is demanding. Long hours, public pressure, and constant judgement are very real. But comparing it to regular employment ignores some major differences.
Most people work 12 months a year with two weeks' holiday if they're lucky. They don't have spot boys fetching drinks or vanity vans for rest breaks. One netizen nailed it: "A working parent's schedule is continuous, every single day, with no wrap-up party or off-season."
Online erupts as Kajol defends claim that acting demands more than everyday 9-to-5 workGetty Images
There's also the money. While her fee for a single film is probably more than most people earn in a year, she says that doesn’t make the work easy. Still, it does provide a comfort that regular employees don’t have. Kajol has not yet replied to the backlash.
By clicking the 'Subscribe’, you agree to receive our newsletter, marketing communications and industry
partners/sponsors sharing promotional product information via email and print communication from Garavi Gujarat
Publications Ltd and subsidiaries. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the
unsubscribe link in our emails. We will use your email address to personalize our communications and send you
relevant offers. Your data will be stored up to 30 days after unsubscribing.
Contact us at data@amg.biz to see how we manage and store your data.