Gulshan Grover REVEALS Shah Rukh Khan called him this era’s ‘Pran Sahab; Says, 'A hero shines when the villain is strong'

Gulshan Grover, an actor with a career spanning over 40 years, has reshaped the portrayal of villains on screen. From the raw charm of 90s Hindi cinema to working in Hollywood and now exploring the OTT space with ‘Matka King’, he has constantly adapted to changing times. Popularly known as the Bad Man, a nickname given by filmmaker Subhash Ghai, he recently discussed his villainous image.

Gulshan Grover on being proud of his image

During a conversation with Free Press Journal, Gulshan addressed whether he has ever felt confined by his “villain” image. He dismissed the idea, saying, “Subhash Ghai invited me for breakfast, but didn't mention the movie until I was walking to the lift. I asked about my role, and he said, "Every time you are on screen, you just say: Bad Man." His vision was so sharp it redefined my career with just two words. Not at all. I am proud of it. A hero only shines when the villain is strong. As my friend Shah Rukh Khan once told me, I am like the "Pran Sahab" of this era, relevant and energetic. I believe a great villain is essential to prove that "Truth Always Wins."

Gulshan Grover on failure and rejection

Talking about how he handles failure, Grover said, “My success is less and my failure is much more. If you look at the most successful people, their list of failures is often longer than their successes. You cannot let rejection stop you. If you are focused, you take it in your stride and keep moving forward.”

Gulshan Grover in ‘Matka King’

On the professional front, Gulshan Grover was recently seen in ‘Matka King’ with Vijay Varma and Kritika Kamra. Set against the backdrop of 1960s Mumbai, the story centres on a cotton trader who dreams of earning respect and ends up starting a gambling game called Matka. Helmed by Nagraj Manjule, the series is currently available to stream on Prime Video.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”