Actor and director Makrand Deshpande would have loved to have superstar Shahrukh Khan for the premiere of his film "Shahrukh Bola Tu Khoohbsurat Hai" at the 40th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here.

"I had invited Shahrukh here for the premiere of my film, but he told me that he would attend the opening night instead," Deshpande told reporters.

Speaking about his film, Deshpande, known for his quirky roles like that of a gangling ascetic in Ashutosh Gowarikar's "Swades", said that the movie was about a girl who has a small brush with Shahrukh Khan in real life which completely transforms her life.

"This girl is in a very bad mood, when Shahrukh suddenly as a matter of chance passes by the street in a car and says 'tu khoobsurat hai!' (you are beautiful!). It changes the life of this flower-selling girl," Deshpande said.

Speaking about his role as a director, Deshpande said that experience in theatre held him in good stead.

"I did not really know when I said action (for the first time). I think I was always a director," he quipped.