Shah Rukh Khan has reportedly had a small but interesting influence on The Paradise.
Director Srikanth Odela has revealed that he is a huge fan of Shah Rukh Khan in Bollywood, just as he admires Chiranjeevi in Telugu cinema. He said his love for SRK goes back to his childhood.
According to Srikanth Odela, he and his mother used to watch Shah Rukh Khan’s films when he was young, even though he did not understand Hindi at the time. The actor’s films still made a strong impression on him.
That influence has now found its way into The Paradise.
Srikanth Odela revealed that he named one of the characters in the film Bichhoo Singh. The name is said to be inspired by the Bichhoo Gang from Shah Rukh Khan’s 2000 film Josh.
However, fans have pointed out an interesting detail. Shah Rukh Khan’s gang in Josh was actually the Eagle Gang, while the Bichhoo Gang was the rival gang.
It may look like a small detail, but it shows how strongly certain films stay with filmmakers. Odela did not simply admire Shah Rukh Khan as a star. His films became part of the director’s childhood memories and eventually found a place in his own filmmaking.
For a director who grew up watching Shah Rukh Khan without even understanding the language, giving a character an SRK-inspired name is a nice full-circle moment.
For Shah Rukh Khan fans, spotting the Bichhoo Singh reference in The Paradise could be one of those small details that makes the film even more interesting. Whether this SRK connection will also help The Paradise connect better with the North Indian audience and boost its collections has to be seen.
