What’s it like being the country’s biggest movie star, the biggest brand, India’s heartthrob No 1? If you’re Shah Rukh Khan, the answer is unpredictable. There are no platitudes about “it’s the people’s love and affection and the grace of God and my hard work etc etc.”
Instead, he reflects on the question briefly and then replies: “I don’t know why I’m popular. I don’t know what I’m doing right. That’s why I’m mostly insecure. If I’m not popular some years down the line, I won’t know why. I’ll still be doing the same shit but it won’t work any more. So I don’t know what’s responsible for my stardom right now. Is it luck? Being in the right place at the right time? I have no idea. Is film ki kahani koi aur likh raha hai. I’m just an employee of the Shah Rukh Khan myth and I don’t even know who the boss is. It’s a scary place to be in.”
It is late evening. We are in Mumbai’s Mehboob Studio where Shah Rukh is doing a photo shoot for a Hyundai ad. The interview takes place over many hours, but not for a moment does Shah Rukh’s concentration or energy flag.
As Anupama Chopra, who has written a book on the superstar, says, “His energy is astounding. I remember doing an interview with him in Chandigarh when he was shooting for Veer Zara. It was three in the morning and I was wilting, but Shah Rukh was all there. He’s also fabulously funny and entertaining, even if there’s only one other person in the room. He always makes sure that the person sitting across him has a good time.”
I certainly did.
Just before our interview, a young girl, who has been a passionate fan of Shah Rukh’s for over ten years, comes to meet him. She gives him a handwritten letter and two small gifts for his son Aryan and daughter Suhana. Shah Rukh, in turn, gives her a warm hug, poses for pictures and chats with her. She must have returned home ecstatic.
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Amazing as usual Mr Khan! Always feel nice n eager to read King Khan’s interviews..wat a rare combination of beautiful mind, soul n heart. Tooo good