Shah Rukh Khan’s cigar in the 2023 Atlee-helmed blockbuster Jawan was computer-generated, shows a VFX breakdown video shared by production company Red Chillies Entertainment, highlighting that the actor wasn’t smoking a real cigar during the fight sequences that had the audience whistling and cheering.

Appreciating the unabating efforts of the Jawan VFX team and crew members on X (formerly Twitter), Shah Rukh wrote, “A film becomes complete and beautiful by the work of people who never get to be seen on screen. Round the clock work….so many deadlines…last minute glitches...and still to deliver this excellence. Thank u boys and girls…Jawan without would never be...”READY”... Love u all.”.

In its post, which was reshared by the 58-year-old actor, the production company unveiled how a blend of realism and digital enhancement had worked in tandem to make the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer a cinematic marvel.

“The culmination of more than a year’s hard work by our team on one of our most aspirational projects, #Jawan, is finally out on our Youtube channel. Your overwhelming love and appreciation for the film mean the world to us. Here’s hoping the VFX breakdown brings you as much joy as it brought us to create,” wrote the makers on X on Monday, sharing a YouTube link to Jawan’s showreel with fans.

The three-minute-22-second-long video is an elaborate deconstruction of the extensive visual effects employed in the making of the Atlee directorial. From the metro train in the opening sequence to the cigar being smoked by Shah Rukh's character, Vikram Rathore, in a specific shot, several such notable scenes in the film were entirely digitally generated. The high-octane action scenes showcase an ingenious blend of realism and computer-generated graphics.

Shah Rukh, clad in harness belts, personally performed some stunts during the truck-heist scene, but the sequence on the bike was digitally crafted. Similarly, the prison, a focal point for much of the film's action, was only partially constructed, with VFX used for further enhancement. Even the cottage occupied by Vikram and his wife, Aishwarya Rathore (played by Deepika Padukone), was computer-generated."

The vigilante action film also featured Vijay Sethupathi, Nayanthara, Sanya Malhotra and Ridhi Dogra in key roles.

Jawan follows the story of Azad, the jailer of a woman's prison, who guides a group of female prisoners in executing socially conscious heists. Along the journey, the protagonist reunites with his father, also portrayed by Shah Rukh.

Released theatrically on September 7 last year, Jawan collected over Rs 1,100 crore globally, becoming the most successful film of Shah Rukh’s career.