Hollywood icon Will Smith has publicly pitched himself for a role in a Bollywood film, directly appealing to none other than the King of Romance, Shah Rukh Khan. The revelation came during the actor's recent visit to Dubai for the Middle East premiere of his National Geographic series, Pole to Pole with Will Smith.
Hollywood Meets Bollywood: Smith's Star-Studded Wishlist
During an interaction with the media, Will Smith spoke candidly about his long-standing admiration for the Indian film industry. He disclosed that his desire to collaborate isn't new and that he has actively been building connections with Bollywood's biggest names for years. In a conversation with Gulf News, Smith confirmed he has previously been in discussions for potential projects with two other megastars: Salman Khan and the legendary Amitabh Bachchan.
"I was talking to Salman. We had things we were talking about," Smith shared. He added humorously about his talks with Bachchan, "I was trying to get into something with Big B, you know. He told me I could be Big W, so we were cool – we were sharing the title." However, the actor noted that despite these promising conversations, none of the projects materialised into a final film.
A Direct Plea to King Khan
Smith then turned his attention to the current box office monarch, Shah Rukh Khan. Acknowledging SRK's unparalleled stardom in Hindi cinema, the Bad Boys star made a direct and enthusiastic request. "I want Shah Rukh to put me in something, Shah Rukh what’s up," Will Smith declared, sending a clear message across continents. This open invitation has sparked excitement among fans of both cinematic giants, who are now eagerly speculating about a potential blockbuster collaboration.
Lessons from the Extreme: Smith's 'Pole to Pole' Journey
The context for these revelations was the premiere of Smith's adventure series, Pole to Pole. The show, which documents an intense 100-day journey, features the actor undertaking extreme challenges. These include skiing to the South Pole, catching a giant anaconda, milking a venomous tarantula, and diving under the ice of the North Pole.
Reflecting on the gruelling shoot, Smith admitted that climbing the Himalayas was one of the toughest parts. "We walked from 12,000 to just over 14,000 [feet]. I was crawling. I couldn’t move at all," he recalled, adding a humorous note about being outpaced by a "70-year-old woman who was easily walking up and down the mountain."
He shared a profound personal takeaway from facing such fears. "The major takeaway for me was how fear destroys your possibility to experience beauty," Smith stated. He elaborated that this applies to relationships and life itself, concluding that "Fear really destroys your ability to be happy."
Will Smith's open call for a Bollywood role, combined with his revelations about past talks with Indian legends, has set the stage for what could be one of the most anticipated cross-industry collaborations. The ball is now firmly in the court of Shah Rukh Khan and other Indian filmmakers.
