It has taken the director 12 years to finally realise the dream that brought him to Mumbai. Sharma says right from his college years, he wanted to make a film with Shah Rukh.
And he even tried to contact the actor while he was studying film direction in California Institute of Arts.
"One fine day, I called his spot boy, Subhash dada. He told me SRK is in a shot and asked me to call after fifteen minutes. When I did call back after fifteen minutes, he did come on the line!
"I told him about myself; that I am a Delhi kid and would want to meet you and discuss a film. SRK actually agreed to meet me! He was rehearsing for the temptations tour, and told me that he would fit me in during July and August. He gave me his manager's email id and phone number," Maneesh said.
Recalling the day he first met his idol, the 'Band Baaja Baaraat' helmer, who was an assistant director on Shah Rukh's 2008 film 'Rab Ne Banaa Di Jodi', said it was also the day the idea of 'Fan' originated.
"On the day of the meeting, I waited for a bit outside his home, Mannat. That's when I saw, people waiting outside just to catch a glimpse of SRK. Sure enough, when his car did come, a whole bunch of friends thronged towards it, to catch a glimpse. To me, the idea of 'Fan' originated somewhere at that point. I think the idea seeded there.
"I thought that this sentiment made for an interesting story. What happens when you finally meet and see your icon in person?" he said about the upcoming Yash Raj film.
Like SRK, Maneesh is also from Delhi. They also share the same alma mater, Hansraj College, and theatre guru, Barry John.
'Fan', also starring Waluscha De Sousa and Shriya Pilgaonkar, will see SRK in a double role- one as a superstar and the other as his fan. The 50-year-old actor has gone through extensive make-up routine to achieve his two separate looks.
Produced by Aditya Chopra, the film will release on April 15.
