Writer Anjum Rajabali says Shah Rukh Khan backed out of astronaut Rakesh Sharma's biopic Saare Jahan Se Achha as he was shaken up by the failure of Zero. There were reports that Shah Rukh was sceptical to venture into another space film after Zero, which had its character travel to Mars for love and hence quit Saare Jahan Se Achha.

At a panel discussion at FICCI Frames, Anjum, however, said the space angle was not the reason for the superstar to leave the film.