‘Shah Rukh Khan makes you feel seen, rehearses a lot, and treats everyone with respect’: Shahana Goswami | Bollywood News

Edited excerpts for clarity and brevity.

Q: I watched the first two episodes last night, and I really liked the zoo sequence. That was such a powerful moment. I’d love to start with that. How was it shooting that scene? It’s such a pivotal moment in the show, revealing so much about both characters. What can we expect going forward? And what kind of conversations did you all have before shooting it?

Shahana: From the moment we read the scene, there were a lot of discussions. We did several readings with the showrunner. We really took the time to go through each scene in depth, specifically this one. What I loved about that zoo scene is that no one is being deliberately unkind. You can understand that Akshay’s character is speaking from a perspective shaped by society and its norms. And my character suddenly realizes, despite the chemistry and pull she feels towards this person from another world, that her own fears and insecurities come rushing in. They’re not intended, but they surface. It’s her biggest fear, rooted in the reality of feeling trapped in a world where she can’t fully be herself. Even while filming, I remember thinking, “I hope it’s clear why she walks away,” because on the surface it might feel abrupt. He apologizes immediately, but for her, it’s not even about the apology. It’s like, “This isn’t about being sorry, this is about us not being aligned.”

Akshay: That scene was definitely tricky. We weren’t sure if it would come through clearly. But judging by the response, some four million views on reels and thousands of comments, it clearly resonated. What’s beautiful is that our intent is translated. Even something said with love, with care, can still come off as judgmental. Sometimes control can stem from love, like a parent who’s overly protective. And that’s where my character is coming from. He thinks what he’s saying is natural. But he also realises that he’s said something wrong.

Q: That nuance really comes across. The tension is so tangible. What was it like building that chemistry? Because every time you two are on screen, there’s this undercurrent of passion and conflict.

Shahana: It actually took some time. When we first met, it wasn’t like we instantly hit it off. I remember feeling quite awkward during our initial auditions. They made us do an impromptu scene, and in one bit, Akshay kept physically moving back, not because the character was supposed to, but because I think he felt awkward about the proximity. I was thinking, “Oh no, how are we going to pull this off?” And I knew early on that the show would have intimate scenes, but we had an incredible support system, directors, writers, and even an intimacy coordinator from Australia. That made a huge difference.

Akshay: Truly, the work put in by the coordinator really helped us. And we always intended the gaze to be very empathetic in those moments. That’s probably why the scenes didn’t feel sensationalized, but instead deeply emotional and sensitive.

Q: Absolutely. I was speaking to Aastha Khanna, an intimacy coordinator, and she said that even now, when there is so much awareness of intimacy coordinators, many production houses still don’t hire them, which is concerning.

Shahana: Exactly. It’s still not the norm, but it should be. Physical intimacy has its own language, and actors need the tools to communicate that safely on screen.

Q: I also really liked that small, seemingly trivial moment when you meet again at the hospital, right before the zoo scene, and you both go for chai. I noticed the chai vendor is named Shah Rukh, which was such a sweet little nod.

Akshay: Yes! That was something we added ourselves. We realized he didn’t have a name, and I said, “Shouldn’t he have a name?” So before the shoot, we both just started calling him Shah Rukh. It was our small tribute.

Q: That really felt like an improvised choice. Shahana, you have worked with Shah Rukh in Ra.One, so what was that experience like?

Shahana: Yes, we’d crossed paths before, especially during that phase before I left for Paris. He’s impossible not to love, charming, intuitive, incredibly creative. I remember during Ra.One, there was this one scene he was rehearsing alone on set. Everyone else had left because of a set change, and he was just sitting there, quietly practicing. I was so struck by that. He treats everyone, even a child actor, with such respect. He makes you feel seen, but not in a pretentious way. It’s just how he is, always fully present.

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Q: That’s beautiful. And I heard you had a bit of a breakdown before starting your now widely acclaimed film Santosh?

Shahana: Yes, the night before the shoot. Usually, the writing and conversations with the director help me build the character in the first few days. But before Santosh, I started doubting myself. I began comparing my process to other actors, those who read scripts 17 times, make extensive notes, and have a very methodical approach. I started thinking, “Maybe I should do that too. Maybe I’m underprepared.” I had a long cry. I even thought, “They’ve made a mistake casting me.” But then someone said, “You’ve worked for 20 years. Maybe your process is your own.” And that helped me snap out of it. I tend to freeze under pressure, but that reminder helped me reclaim my rhythm.

Q: And what’s the status of Santosh now?

Shahana: It’s still stuck due to certification. Until we get that, we can’t approach streaming platforms, or rather, we can, but most of them don’t want to associate with anything potentially controversial. Executives don’t want to get caught in legal messes. So things are in limbo, but we’re hoping for a resolution soon.

Q: Akshay, while watching this, I remembered you from 24: Season 2. That was for television. How different was that from working on this streaming series?

Akshay: 24 was more physical, more action-oriented. This show is far more introspective and emotional. But in terms of preparation, my process doesn’t change. I come from theatre, so whether it’s stage, film, or streaming, it’s the same commitment. Of course, in theatre, the body is the canvas. On stage, it’s larger than life. But emotionally, the effort is the same across mediums.

Q: Shahana, you’ve done so much OTT work, Bombay Begums, for example. But do you feel like streaming content has reached a saturation point? That it’s starting to feel formulaic?

Shahana: Yes, definitely. What once felt fresh is now being shaped by numbers, algorithms, and corporates that don’t necessarily understand storytelling. That balance still exists in Hollywood. You see a Succession, or new voices breaking through. But here, a lot of creative people are stuck making what works, over and over. The problem is that creative decisions are being dictated by people who don’t come from a creative space.

Q: Lastly, what are your favorite relationship dramas, series or films, Indian or international?

Shahana: Scenes from a Marriage, I thought that was incredible. Then there’s Breaking the Waves, an extraordinary film about relationships. I also loved that film with multiple stories, one about a writer and a Spanish-speaking maid, I think it was Love Actually?

Akshay: Yes, Love Actually is so good. Even When Harry Met Sally. But how can we not say DDLJ?

Shahana: Even Rocky Aur Rani, I really loved. In fact, I so want to do a Karan Johar film.

Akshay: Yeah, me too, man.