Mumbai: Nani had an amusing response when he was asked about his similarities with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan during a press conference for his upcoming film The Paradise. The Telugu star’s unexpected answer left the room laughing before the conversation turned to a connection dating back to his association with Yash Raj Films.
When Raghav Juyal was asked what he believed Nani and Shah Rukh Khan had in common, Nani jumped in with a one-word answer: “Measurements.”
The remark immediately became one of the lighter moments of the press interaction.
Nani Recalls His Yash Raj Films Connection
Nani later explained that the joke was actually inspired by something he had been told during the making of his 2014 film Aaha Kalyanam.
Directed by A Gokul Krishna, the Tamil-Telugu romantic comedy was backed by Yash Raj Films and marked Nani’s association with the prominent Hindi film production house.
Speaking about the film’s photoshoot, Nani recalled being told that his physical measurements matched those of Shah Rukh Khan.
“When I went for the photoshoot, that’s the first thing they told me, ‘Sir, your exact measurements are Shah Rukh Khan sir’,” Nani shared with Variety India.
The actor then turned the comparison into another joke, pointing out that while the measurements may have been similar, the payment certainly was not.
“I was like, okay, nice. No, but not exact payment. I wish it was an exact payment, but yeah,” he added.
The comment brought another round of laughter and gave the otherwise straightforward comparison a distinctly Nani-style twist.
Raghav Juyal Points to a Different Similarity
While Nani’s answer focused on the lighter side of his comparison with Shah Rukh Khan, Raghav Juyal offered a more personal observation.
Juyal said he had noticed similarities in how both actors interact with people on their film sets. According to him, Nani and Shah Rukh Khan treat members of the crew with respect regardless of their position.
“I think the way they treat everyone equally on sets. That is something which I saw in Nani Dada also and Shah Rukh sir also,” Juyal said.
He further explained that the two actors maintain a respectful atmosphere around them, extending that behaviour to technicians, crew members and junior members of the production.
“They treat everyone equally on sets. They are very, very respectful on their sets. To everyone. To each and everyone. You know, whoever is working there, technicians, crew, everyone. Juniors,” he added.
Raghav Juyal Praises Nani’s Patience
Juyal also highlighted another quality he associates with both Nani and Shah Rukh Khan: their ability to remain calm and patient.
“And the calmness they have. Patience, they have. I really like it when people have patience. I don’t have it. I am a very impatient person,” Juyal said.
His comments offered a different perspective on the comparison, moving beyond physical similarities and focusing on the actors’ behaviour and working relationships with their teams.
Raghav Juyal Makes His Telugu Film Debut With The Paradise
The conversation comes at an important point in Raghav Juyal’s career, as The Paradise marks his Telugu film debut. He plays the antagonist opposite Nani in the film, which is directed by Srikanth Odela.
Set against the backdrop of 1980s Secunderabad, The Paradise is centred on a story involving a marginalised community. The film also features Mohan Babu, Kayadu Lohar, Sonali Kulkarni and Sampoornesh Babu.
The Paradise is scheduled for a theatrical release on September 24.
Interestingly, Juyal will also appear alongside Shah Rukh Khan in King, the upcoming action thriller directed by Siddharth Anand. That makes his comparison between Nani and Shah Rukh Khan particularly interesting, as the actor has now worked with both stars.
For Nani, meanwhile, the press conference provided an opportunity to look back at an unusual connection with Shah Rukh Khan while promoting one of his most anticipated upcoming projects.