Will Smith Says Projects With Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachchan ‘Didn’t Pan Out’; Wants Shah Rukh Khan to Cast Him in Bollywood Film

Oscar-winning actor Will Smith recently visited Dubai for the premiere of National Geographic’s Pole to Pole with Will Smith, where he spoke about his interest in working in Bollywood and collaborating with some of India’s biggest stars.

During an interaction with Gulf News on the red carpet, Smith said he would love to be cast in a Bollywood film by Shah Rukh Khan. “I want Shah Rukh to put me in something. Shah Rukh, what’s up,” he said with a laugh.

The actor also revealed that he has previously discussed potential collaborations with Salman Khan and Amitabh Bachchan, though none materialised. “I was talking to Salman. We had things we were talking about. I was trying to get into something with Big B, you know. He told me I could be Big W, so we were cool — we were sharing the title,” Smith said. “There were a couple of things over the years… nothing panned out.”

While several Bollywood stars such as Deepika Padukone, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra have successfully crossed over to Hollywood, Bollywood has rarely featured Hollywood actors in leading roles. Smith’s comments have reignited speculation about a possible cross-industry collaboration.

Shah Rukh Khan is currently busy shooting for his upcoming film King, directed by Siddharth Anand. The film also stars Suhana Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan and Jaideep Ahlawat. Its first look revealed Shah Rukh in an intense, action-heavy role, hinting at a darker, psychologically driven narrative. The film is expected to release in theatres later this year.

Will Smith, meanwhile, is gearing up for the release of his upcoming television series Pole to Pole with Will Smith. The National Geographic show follows Smith as he undertakes extreme challenges over 100 days, including skiing to the South Pole, diving beneath Arctic ice, and navigating remote terrains alongside scientists and explorers. The series is set to premiere on January 13.