Aryan Khan’s Lawyer Initially Declined Case; Shah Rukh Khan Pleaded, Offered Private Jet to Secure Bail

Aryan Khan, the son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, spent nearly a month in jail following his 2021 arrest in an alleged drug-related case. During this period, Shah Rukh Khan, one of India’s most celebrated actors, went to great lengths to secure his son’s release. He reportedly pleaded with senior lawyer Mukul Rohatgi’s wife to convince him to take the case, even offering a private jet and checking into the same hotel as Rohatgi in Mumbai to ensure he could argue Aryan’s bail.

 

When Aryan was detained, Shah Rukh Khan reportedly ran from pillar to post, determined to secure his son’s release. Although Aryan was eventually cleared of all charges in 2022, the month he spent in prison in October 2021 was particularly stressful for the actor. In a recent interview, Mukul Rohatgi, the former Attorney-General of India, revealed that he had initially declined the case as he was on vacation in London. It was only after Shah Rukh appealed to his wife that Rohatgi agreed to travel to Mumbai and argue the case.

 

Speaking to Republic TV, Rohatgi described the matter as legally “routine” but noted it gained prominence because of Shah Rukh’s involvement. “For me, it was a simple bail case. I have handled thousands of them. It became a big deal only because of the celebrity factor. Everyone was watching. But honestly, it was during my holiday in the UK, and these were Covid times,” he said.

 

Rohatgi explained that one of Shah Rukh’s close aides first contacted him, but he declined because he did not want to interrupt his vacation. When Shah Rukh called personally, Rohatgi initially refused again. “Mr Khan somehow got my number and spoke to me directly. I told him the same -- that I didn’t want to take it. Then, being the actor he is, he asked, ‘Can I talk to your wife?’ I agreed,” Rohatgi said. Shah Rukh reportedly pleaded with her, saying, “‘Don’t see me as a client, I’m just a father.’ He poured his heart out, and my wife said, ‘Arre, go and do it.’ I told her -- usually you warn me to be careful during Covid, and now you’re insisting I travel all the way for this case,” he added with a smile.

 

Rohatgi also mentioned that Shah Rukh offered him a private jet, which he politely declined. “He was kind enough to offer me his jet, but I’m not fond of small planes, so I flew down to Mumbai on a commercial flight. Interestingly, Shah Rukh himself checked into Trident, Nariman Point, the same hotel where I usually stay,” he said.

 

According to Rohatgi, Shah Rukh was deeply involved in preparing the legal strategy. “I found him very focused and sharp. He had made plenty of notes and written down points beyond what the legal team had prepared. He discussed everything with me thoroughly before we argued the matter. The arguments went on for two to three half days, and eventually, bail was granted. I then returned to London immediately to finish my holiday. That’s how it all happened,” he recalled.

 

Aryan Khan, who has since entered the entertainment industry, recently joked about his 2021 arrest in his debut series The Ba**ds of Bollywood*, implying he was detained without cause.

 

 

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