Shah Rukh Khan—an actor, orator, philanthropist, icon—what should I call him? His onscreen presence and off-screen charisma has left me at a loss to find a word appropriate enough to capture his multi-faceted personality.
The vast distance between us - roughly 883 kms - has had no impact on my respect to this master of his craft. It began with VHS back in the day and was sustained through re-runs facilitated by satellite dish and cable television long before the internet made watching movies as easy as child’s play.
I would say this fondness is rooted in decades-old memory of watching Shah Rukh movies - equally comfortable as the anti-hero in Darr and Bazigar or the personification of the romantic in Devdas and Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naan.
One of my fondest childhood memories is snuggled in a blanket alongside my brother watching tapes of Khan’s movies that my father, a devotee in his own right, would rent from the nearby casette store - another remnant of the past.
His phenomenal rise through the nineties saw him establish himself as the top leading man of Bollywood, steering clear of his two closest rivals Aamir and Salman.
Like many other fans, I was waiting for the teaser of his next movie ‘Pathaan’ which was released on his birthday today (November 2).
It is rather unlikely considering the precarious relationship between our two countries which didn’t have a bounday in between not too long ago. Shah Rukh has a strong Pakistani connection as well, with members of his paternal family still believed to be in Peshawar.
Maybe Shah Rukh will visit Pakistan again and I will get the chance that I have been waiting for.
Bollywood has a strong element of nepotism. There is the Kapoor clan who are considered Bollywood royalty, the Bachchans, and even the Khans (Salman’s father Salim Khan is a big producer and one-half of the prolific screenwriting duo Salim-Javed). But not the Badshah of Bollywood.
When he came to Mumbai, he didn’t have any family involved in films or had the patronage of a “godfather” in Bollywood.
He made his mark through hardwork and taking up roles that demanded a range of emotions. Playing the anti-hero while flooring audiences with his boyish charm is what made him a superstar.
I don’t know if it was sheer luck or by design, but the songs in his films also depict his dreams and grit.
Like the one from movie Yes Boss:
Jo bhi chaahoon vo main paoonZindagi mein jeet jaoonChaand taare tod laoonSaari duniya par main chhaoonBas itna sa khwaab hai
One of my school-teacher’s told me that a person learns from two things: from the experience of other’s or your own. I took that advice to heart and have always looked for insight, understanding and inspiration everywhere.
Below is what I have learned or tried to learn from Shah Rukh:
It’s like going to the gym to build up muscle. Like I am doing now for this piece. For me, the struggle is what matters. Victory or defeat is in the hands of God. This isn’t about fatalism but charting your own course and accepting what comes.
This is what I do as a sub-editor/writer/journalist. I try to connect the dots by taking information from all credible sources to come up with a detailed story.
I must admit that I lose my bearings when ancillary tasks pop up while I am working on a specific story or issue. Call it mismanagement or an inability to say no to multitasking. Simply put: one thing at a time.
Here, I am echoing ideas that I have heard Shah Rukh advocate. Some of it also is what I have derived from his speeches and public appearances.
“You cannot be restful and at peace if you want to be successful. And it’s the truth and God’s honest truth,” is one quote I remeber from public appearance nearly a decade ago.
Some of the points from that talk:
In his own words: “If you cannot sacrifice, then you will not be successful. You cannot become what you want to be without sacrificing your present self.”
This is something that most of Bollywood agrees on. If his Adonis-like looks weren’t enough, Shah Rukh Khan is blessed with a silver tongue and an innate sense of humour and timing.
His responses to talk show hosts - from Karan Johar to comedians and everything in between - are often laced with wit and, if the King wants it, can have everyone around in stitches.
Once, a reporter asked Shah Rukh about his favourite television host.
His frank, pretension-free response was: “Honestly, nobody better than me. I do hosting really well. I am impromptu. I do not need to read the teleprompter when there are last-minute changes. I figure that out as well. I am handsome, can dance, can speak English and Hindi. No one is like me, seriously. I am not demeaning anyone. I really, really do it nicely, seriously.”
Don’t get me wrong. The king of romance can as easily have you teary-eyed. Cue all those scenes from Devdas.
Another aspect of his personality, often glossed over, is his breadth of knowledge and information. He is known to be a voracious reader while staying abreast of latest developments.
Before I end, I would like to add a bit about his humility. Despite being India’s biggest superstar for almost two decades, it is rare for Shah Rukh to throw tantrums in public. Co-stars have been full of praise as do people who are employed by him.
Even Mahira Khan, who featured in Raees alongisde him, was all praise about his professionalism and humility.
Addendum: I wish the ‘King Khan’ a very happy birthday. May you have many more to celebrate. I hope you visit Pakistan someday.
