*Courtesy of Getty Images / Mashable Middle East.*

Acclaimed filmmaker Paul Schrader has opened up about ‘Xtreme City,’ the ambitious but ultimately canceled film that would have brought together Hollywood superstar Leonardo DiCaprio and Bollywood legend Shah Rukh Khan.

Schrader, known for his screenwriting collaborations with Martin Scorsese on iconic films such as ‘Taxi Driver’ and ‘Bringing Out the Dead,’ had high hopes for the project, which Scorsese was set to executive produce. The film was conceived at the 2011 Berlin Film Festival but fell apart before it could get off the ground.

In a recent interview on the ‘Pod Casty for Me’ podcast, Schrader detailed the challenges that led to the film's demise.

“I was excited to make it,” Schrader shared. “We all met in Berlin—Shah Rukh Khan, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Scorsese. It seemed like everything was lining up perfectly.”

The movie was envisioned as a crime thriller, with Khan playing an Indian gangster who saves the life of an American cop, portrayed by DiCaprio. Schrader and Bollywood writer Mushtaq Shiekh co-wrote the script, and the collaboration was poised to bring together the storytelling styles of Bollywood and Hollywood. However, cultural and creative differences emerged during pre-production.

Schrader revealed that Khan’s established working style in Bollywood, where he often has creative control over his projects, became a significant obstacle.

“Shah Rukh is a massive star in Bollywood, and he’s used to calling the shots,” Schrader explained. “He hires directors—sometimes multiple ones for different parts of a film. That level of autonomy is common for him, but it doesn’t align with how we typically make films in Hollywood. I could tell this was becoming a sticking point.”

Additionally, Schrader noted that Khan had never worked in Hollywood or played a secondary role to another actor, particularly someone as globally recognized as DiCaprio.

“I think the idea of not being in full control or playing second fiddle was uncomfortable for him,” Schrader said.

Despite these challenges, Schrader continued working on the project, even traveling to Mumbai multiple times to meet with Khan. But over time, the star’s enthusiasm waned.

“Bit by bit, I wrote the script and kept meeting with Shah Rukh, but I could feel his commitment slipping,” Schrader recalled. “Once his commitment turned provisional, Leo’s commitment also became provisional. And when you have two provisional commitments, you essentially have no project.”

The film was officially shelved, but Schrader later revealed that he briefly considered recasting the role of the gangster with Bollywood actor Salman Khan. However, that plan also faltered.

“I met with Salman Khan to see if we could move forward, but I knew if Shah Rukh found out, it would kill any remaining chance of reviving the film,” Schrader said.

The cancellation of ‘Xtreme City’ marked the end of Schrader’s brief foray into Bollywood. Speaking in a 2013 interview with Open, Schrader expressed his initial excitement about the project, which he hoped would blend the best of Bollywood and Hollywood filmmaking.

“I was intrigued by Bollywood after attending a film festival in Delhi. The idea of merging an international movie with Bollywood elements was something new, and I wanted to explore that.”

However, Schrader admitted that the cultural and creative differences proved insurmountable: “Shah Rukh Khan is used to having complete control over his projects, and an international film like this wouldn’t have allowed for that.”

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