Sadiya Siddiqui opens up about her massive real-life crush on Shah Rukh Khan, and why she initially turned down her iconic role in Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa.
Not many co‑stars of Shah Rukh Khan have been this unabashedly honest. Actress Sadiya Siddiqui, who played SRK’s sister in Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994), recently opened up about the emotional tug‑of‑war she faced while working with the superstar.
The actress revealed that when director Kundan Shah offered her the role of Shah Rukh’s sister in the cult film, she actually said no to it. Sadiya revealed that she initially flatly refused the opportunity because she was deeply in love with him in real life.
Kundan Shah had famously spotted Sadiya’s brilliant acting chops while she was playing the bubbly child bride Angoori in the hit Doordarshan show Humrahi. Recognizing her raw talent, he immediately offered her a pivotal role in his upcoming film, but Sadiya turned it down. When the filmmaker demanded to know the reason behind the same, the actress confessed that she simply could not look at Shah Rukh Khan and pretend he was her brother because her eyes would betray her true romantic feelings. In fact, she actually wanted to play his romantic interest, Anna, instead.
The next day, she even dressed up in her best clothes and makeup to look older, but the director just laughed and told her she was too young. In the end, he forced her to take the sister’s role anyway.
Sadiya said it was tough to act like SRK’s sister while secretly being in love with him. “My eyes would say he’s my brother, but my heart felt something else,” she laughed.
Sadiya further mentioned that she had never expressed her feelings for Shah Rukh, though she was sure he knew. She recalled how caring he was on the set, sharing an incident during a beach shoot where she had to chase him in a dream sequence. Since it was very hot, Shah Rukh noticed her sitting in the sun afterward and told her to go sit in the car and drink some water.
She added that she had been too shy to ask for his phone number. Years later, when she went to Prime Focus for dubbing, she saw him there and assumed he wouldn’t remember her. To her surprise, he recognized her immediately, called out her name, and hugged her warmly. She said she wouldn’t miss that chance. At the time, he was drinking Diet Coke, and she teased him about still drinking too much and smoking, something she later regretted. The ‘Jawan’ actor laughed it off, treating her like his sister, though she admitted she was feeling something else. She said it was really nice that he remembered her.
She also recalled another meeting when she had gone to see a filmmaker and needed to use the washroom. Since the public washroom was in poor condition, she was directed to the makeup room where Shah Rukh was eating. She remembered how he greeted her cheerfully, asked how she was, and even offered her food. She told him she had already eaten and only wanted to use the washroom, and he readily agreed. For her, these encounters summed up Shah Rukh Khan’s warmth and kindness.
Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa is a coming-of-age drama that revolves around Sunil, a mischievous dreamer, who is hopelessly in love with Anna, but she loves Chris. His playful schemes to win her heart backfires, leaving him heartbroken yet teaching him the bittersweet truth about love, friendship, and growing up. Besides Shah Rukh Khan, the film also features Suchitra Krishnamoorthi and Deepak Tijori in pivotal roles.
