Filmmaker Nikkhil Advani, known for his collaborations with Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Akshay Kumar, has revealed that he no longer feels confident directing films featuring Bollywood’s biggest stars. In a recent interview, he admitted that the immense box office expectations surrounding such projects make it difficult for him to work under that kind of pressure.
In an interview with Lehren Retro, Nikkhil clarified that while he has no issues producing films with these superstars, he prefers not to direct them. When asked if he would work with Salman Khan again after ‘Salaam-E-Ishq’ and ‘Hero’, he firmly said no and further expressed gratitude for having the freedom to choose his projects. “I tell everyone—John, Akshay—that I don’t know how to make a film that earns ₹600-800 crore,” he added.
Advani pointed out that actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Ajay Devgn have reached a level where their films are expected to achieve massive box office success. “They have become so big that it is unheard of for them not to satisfy their fan base without those numbers. They have to hit those numbers,” he explained.
Despite his reluctance to direct them, he maintains strong professional relationships with some of these stars. He revealed that he still speaks to Akshay Kumar in the early mornings and even sends him scripts that he believes would suit him. However, he remains firm in his decision that while he can produce their films, he will not direct them. Even if he wished to direct, he would be unable to handle that pressure.
He also shared his views on collaborating with Shah Rukh Khan again after their successful association on ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho‘. Advani admitted that he has never approached King Khan with a script. He added that he would not take a script to Shah Rukh unless he felt the new story had the ability to surpass ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai‘, ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’, and ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’. He continues to uphold the value of their relationship.
