After Daniel Craig’s exit from the James Bond franchise post 2021’s No Time To Die, the license to kill is open for other actors to claim. There have been lots of speculations about the casting, and names such as Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Callum Turner have been doing the rounds. But is Shah Rukh Khan up for it? The actor, who has recently forayed into actioners, was asked this question by BBC News India at an interview in London, where SRK was present to unveil a bronze statue with his Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) co-star Kajol.
When the interviewer asked that since Shah Rukh has done some action films recently, will he be up for playing the next James Bond? The actor replied, “No, I don't have the accent. I don't like shaken martini (referring to Bond's choice of drinks). I haven't done too many action films, actually. I was always wanting to do an action film, but then Kajol was in my life, and you can't do action films when Kajol is acting opposite you. So, I did all the romantic films.”
Kajol, who was seated beside him during the conversation, reminded him playfully that he was also doing many more films besides her in it. Shah Rukh said, “Yeah, but the ones we are known for are the ones we have done together. We can't deny that. So, I just did a few action films because I always felt I could. I did it a little late in the day. I think I enjoyed it. I don't know James Bond, but Sean Connery for sure, yeah.”
007 has been played by several Hollywood stars, including Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig. The last James Bond movie was No Time to Die, starring Daniel Craig. There has been no official confirmation about who will play the next Bond. Denis Villeneuve (who made Dune) is attached to direct the next in the franchise.
Meanwhile, SRK’s last theatrical release was Dunki (2023). He recently won the National Award for Best Actor for his performance in Jawan (2023). The actor will be seen next in Siddharth Anand’s King, which will also star his daughter Suhana Khan. The film will release in 2026.
