For actor Abhay Verma, meeting Shah Rukh Khan was more than a professional encounter — it was a moment he had once only imagined. The actor, who is currently receiving praise for his portrayal of an Air Force officer in Operation Safed Sagar: The Untold Story of the Kargil War, is now set to share screen space with his childhood idol in the upcoming action entertainer King.

Recalling his first meeting with Shah Rukh, Verma admitted that he was extremely nervous.

“I didn't know that I would get such a beautiful opportunity to work with SRK so soon in my life,” Verma told the media. He added that despite being a legend, Shah Rukh has a way of making people around him feel comfortable.

“I met him for the first time and was really nervous, I could hear my heartbeat,” the actor said.

The experience left Verma second-guessing himself even after the meeting. Back at his hotel, he found himself wondering whether he had made the right impression on the superstar he had admired for years.

The actor's excitement grew further when he learnt that Shah Rukh recognised him from his breakout appearance in the horror-comedy Munjya.

Verma revealed that he had auditioned for King, and his audition eventually reached Shah Rukh. The superstar reportedly remembered him as “that Munjya guy” and felt he would be suitable for the role.

For Verma, the recognition was deeply meaningful.

“There’s nothing bigger than that because him knowing my name, and on top of that, my work — I learned everything by seeing him — meant a lot for me,” he said.

Headlined by Shah Rukh Khan, King is described as a slick, high-octane action entertainer directed by Siddharth Anand. The film also stars Shah Rukh's daughter Suhana Khan and his frequent collaborator Deepika Padukone.

Meanwhile, Verma has been winning attention for his performance in Netflix's Operation Safed Sagar: The Untold Story of the Kargil War, in which he plays Flying Officer Rajpal Singh Dhaliwal, popularly known as Dhali.

Released on August 7, the military drama revolves around the Golden Arrows squadron and its high-risk mission behind enemy lines during the Kargil War. The series explores the experiences of Air Force pilots and their families, while highlighting themes of sacrifice, resilience and the personal cost of conflict.

The series also features Siddharth, Jimmy Shergill, Taaruk Raina, Arnav Bhasin, Dia Mirza, Prajakta Koli, Adil Hussain and Amrita Bagchi, among others.

With Operation Safed Sagar showcasing his dramatic range and King bringing him alongside one of his biggest inspirations, Abhay Verma appears to be entering an exciting new phase of his career.