Atlee Kumar wins Director of the Year award for Jawan; says, “Shah Rukh Khan is a global icon”

Accompanying him to the event was his wife, Krishna Priya, radiating pride and support as her husband received the well-deserved recognition.

Filmmaker Atlee Kumar was honoured with the Director of the Year award at the NDTV Indian of the Year 2024 ceremony, held in New Delhi this past Saturday. The event, which brought together celebrities from various fields, recognized Atlee's exceptional contribution to Indian cinema. The accolade was presented to Atlee by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, adding a touch of governmental recognition to the director's remarkable achievements. Accompanying him to the event was his wife, Krishna Priya, radiating pride and support as her husband received the well-deserved recognition.

Atlee Kumar wins Director of the Year award for Jawan; says, “Shah Rukh Khan is a global icon”

Clad in a beige-coloured asymmetrical kurta, Atlee exuded elegance and style as he accepted the accolade. When asked about working with Jawan star Shah Rukh Khan, Atlee said, "Shah Rukh Khan is a global icon. I wanted to trigger his mass zone that he saved for 30 long years and wanted to convey a social message through him."

He added, “I met Shah Rukh Khan in 2019. We went to watch an IPL match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. As soon as the pictures were put up online, haters started commenting - Will he be able to make a movie with Shah Rukh Khan?” He also said, "True dreams are those which make you sleepless.”

At just 19 years old, Atlee embarked on his journey in the world of Indian cinema as an assistant director under the wing of acclaimed filmmaker S. Shankar. His early experiences working on projects like Enthiran (2010) and Nanban (2012) laid the foundation for what would become a stellar career ahead.