It has been 32 years since Shah Rukh Khan's debut in Bollywood with director, Raj Kanwar's 'Deewana' in 1992. An interview from the prior year surfaced and is being claimed to be his first interview.
Actor Shah Rukh Khan is known for his charm and chivalry, but before fame, the actor once gave an unfiltered interview, where the actor took digs at Bollywood star culture, opened up about the lack of focus on acting, presumptions about himself and his personal life.
Shah Rukh Khan made his B-Town debut with Rishi Kapoor and Divya Bharti starter, Deewana. A year earlier a Stardust journalist, Nishi Prem, interviewed Shah Rukh Khan, and the actor left her speechless. The former editor of Stardust started the interview by quoting:
"I've been hit between the eyes. I do not knowhow to go about this interview."
Shah Rukh Khan began by questioning why Nishi Prem had come to interview him since his first movie was not even out yet and her magazine didn't cover television stars. He added how it would still make sense if one of his films had been released since, at least then she would have something to write about.
Click here to read the full interview.
The Pathaan actor did not stop there, he stated that Nishi was just interested in him because six big banners had been signed by him. She did not know whether or not he would succeed or if he was even a good actor. Shah Rukh even shared that he was worried about what he was doing as this is extremely different from television. The actor had shared:
"But it's damn funny ya that just the fact that six prominent guys have signed me seems to be criteria enough. But I do not want to be known like that. Why should I? Good, bad, indifferent, I would want to be known for what I am."
Shah Rukh Khan also discussed his personal life, sharing that his family was important to him. The actor shared that he has friends a girlfriend, uncle, aunt and sisters and said that they are the most important people in his life. The Jawan actor recalled how he once read an article where actor, Deepak Malhotra had disclosed that he gave up on his lover for his career.
Shah Rukh called out such behaviour as crass. He questioned why one can't have both. The actor further questioned why celebrities use their profession as an excuse to ignore their partners and why they feel it is something to be proud of. The actor shared:
"The fact is that most of these actors are too preoccupied with themselves to even think about anyone else. They get so involved with themselves - and it's very easy to get carried away in this profession - that they have no time and room for anyone else. It's called narcissism. Most of the people out here are like that."
We all know that Shah Rukh Khan came from Delhi, but did you know he was also an all-rounder? In conversation with Nishi Prem, SRK shared that he believes, that he gets things too easily. He was born into a well-off family and had a good childhood. The actor also shared that he had good schooling as well and won many awards.
Khan started his acting career in television, with Fauji in 1988, and worked in serials for 4 years, shared that he felt like he was a hot newcomer before he even knew it. The actor shared that he believes that nothing is worth more to him than he, himself, and that includes his friends, people that he loves and who love him.
Continuing the conversation Shah Rukh shared that he believes that he is what he is because of his parents. They might not have helped him professionally but gave him plenty of love, warmth and gentleness. The actor further shared that people often consider him too nice and sweet, but that is how he was treated. The actor stated:
"I have been treated gently. So I treat people very gently."
Shah Rukh Khan shared that his mother was always proud of him. She would make him feel like he was the best and he had started to believe her, but after she passed away, he realised he was a nobody. The Happy New Year actor recalled how his mother's greatest dream was to see him on the big screen.
Talking about his father, the actor shared that he was fourteen when he died. He was young and didn't even cry at his death, but his mother's demise broke his heart. Shah Rukh Khan further added that he was in Goa when he was informed that his mother was not doing well.
Recalling the incident, the actor revealed that, it was the first time he had cried in front of anyone. Shah Rukh returned to Delhi three days later, and even though he was trying everything, it was in vain. Sharing about one night at the hospital, Shah Rukh Khan said:
"I remember one night the doctor came, son-of-a-b**ch, I hated him, he said 'woh tumhari mummy ko saans chad rahi hai, humein nahin maloom abhi kya karna hai. I rushed down. The other doctor was at a conference. He asked me to get some injections. I ran all over Delhi. I was very desperate. I couldn't get them. I had just four and the doctor wanted twenty."
In conversation with the journalist Khan shared that he is an atheist, but he prayed for his mother. Someone had told him that if he repeated a shared verse 5,000 times, God would listen to him. So while he searched for the injections he kept chanting the Arabic verse from the Quran, but when he got back to the hospital, his uncle told him that his mother was going to die.
The actor shared how when he came back, he saw that his mother was lying there between tubes and respirators. He recalled that he went to her and told her she could not die and told her a lot of things that look stupid now, but he was at a loss. The actor shared:
"The last few hours I sat down at the head of her bed with her in my arms. I told her listen you can't die, because I'll be very unhappy. You can't die on me, you can't leave..... you love me..... And you haven't seen my new serial. A lot of stupid things..... which sound stupid now. You haven't done this, you haven't done that. Very dramatic, very film-like....."
Despite all efforts, Shah Rukh Khan's mother died that night. Sharing about the time the actor said that he did not cry when she died but when he buried her, and suddenly he felt like he wasn't as great as his mother said he was. He shared that even today, he still feels like he doesn't have the confidence that he had when his mother was alive. Shahrukh said:
"There was no drama in her dying. She had her eyes open, she just kept looking at me and then suddenly she just closed her eyes and died. I didn't cry then. The crying came later when I was burying her. And at that time it somehow made me feel that I wasn't so great after all. No one is great. So when I say that this one is no big shit. I don't mean offence. I just mean that nothing is permanent, ever."
The actor has ruled the hearts for generations and is one of the kindest celebrities. Shah Rukh Khan, even despite the pain has carried forward the love and tenderness his parents instilled in him.
Do share your thoughts on Shah Rukh Khan's unfiltered interview.
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