'Jawan': Shah Rukh Khan's 'bete ko hath lagane se pehle...' dialogue was initially not part of script, says writer

The audience burst in applause when Vikram Rathod, the older version of Shah Rukh in the film, stops the antagonist, played by Vijay Sethupathi, and says, "bete ko hath lagane se pehle, baap se baat kar (before touching the son, face the father)."

Many have analysed the dialogue as Shah Rukh's response to the arrest of his son Aryan Khan in a drug case from a cruise in October 2021.

Now, dialogue writer of 'Jawan', Sumit Arora said the lines were much later incorporated in the script.

Arora said in a statement, "It’s a story that will make you believe in the magic of movie making. That line was never there in our draft originally.

"The ‘moment’ where SRK sir’s character says the line was always there and we all knew that it is a powerful moment even without a dialogue. But while shooting, it was felt that there should be a line, that this guy should say something."

"I was there on the set, so I was called in, and the first words that came out of my mouth given the situation were: 'bete ko hath lagane se pehle, baap se baat kar'.

"It felt like the most obvious and most apt thing he should say at that moment. It just fits (in). Director Atlee and SRK sir both felt it’s correct and the shot was taken," the writer added.

Arora said his team didn't expect the dialogue to create such an impact on the audience.

"The way SRK sir delivered it gave us goosebumps. But we never thought that that line would become such a huge hit and would resonate with people in this way. As a writer, you can only write a line but its destiny goes on to write itself," he said.

Directed by Atlee Kumar, 'Jawan', an action-based political commentary, stars Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi in the lead alongside SRK.

Shah Rukh's popular co-actor Deepika Padukone plays an extended cameo while Sanjay Dutt is seen in a special appearance.

The film, which has completed eight days, is roaring in the box office earning Rs. 327.88 crore till Wednesday with the record of double digit numbers even in the weekdays.