‘Shah Rukh Khan used to pick up chairs and help the crew wrap shoots,' says Housefull 5 director Tarun Mansukhani

Indian Express

05-06-2025

Filmmaker Tarun Mansukhani and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan share a long-standing association that dates back to the early days of Tarun's career. As an assistant and associate director, Tarun worked closely with Shah Rukh on several iconic films, including Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Kal Ho Naa Ho, and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. In a recent interview with Galatta India, the Dostana director looked back on those formative years, fondly recalling SRK's humility on set.
'I've seen him picking up chairs and helping wrap up shoots quickly when rain was approaching. He'd become like an assistant director just to get things done efficiently. He is so much a part of the crew that you will never feel that he is Shah Rukh Khan. He is always cracking jokes, and most importantly, he constantly teaches you,' Tarun said.
According to Tarun Mansukhani, one of the most important lessons he learned about filmmaking came from Shah Rukh Khan himself. 'I remember just before starting Dostana he told me, 'What you think is direction, like, putting the camera here, or setting the shot is just 1% of filmmaking, 99% of your job is managing people.'' Tarun says this insight has stayed with him and continues to shape his approach to filmmaking.
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Currently, the filmmaker is gearing up for the fifth installment of the Housefull franchise, marking a major milestone in Indian cinema as the only Bollywood comedy franchise to reach its fifth part. The film features a star-studded ensemble cast and is generating buzz for its innovative format as it will reportedly feature two different climaxes. Departing from the franchise's usual tone, the fifth edition is described not only as a comedy but also a murder mystery, earning it the label of a 'killer comedy.'
Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan has begun shooting for his next project, King, directed by Siddharth Anand. The film reportedly boasts a powerhouse cast including Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Jaideep Ahlawat, Rani Mukerji, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Abhay Verma, and Arshad Warsi.