The Making of a Star: A Conversation with Shah Rukh Khan

Summary

In this engaging interview, the legendary Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, humorously referred to as 'Bond, James Bond,' reflects on his 33-year career marked by perseverance and adaptability. He discusses his ritualistic bath to cleanse himself of past work, his desire to bring hope and happiness through his films, and his surprising hiatus to learn pizza-making during a period of self-introspection. Khan emphasizes the importance of understanding audience preferences and the role of prayer in his life, revealing a personal side to the iconic star.

Takeaways

• 🎬 The interviewee, referred to as 'SRK', is a legendary actor with a career spanning over 33 years, indicating his long-standing success in the film industry.
• 💪 SRK emphasizes the importance of perseverance, which he attributes to his early life experiences as an orphan, teaching him to make the most of what he has.
• 🛁 SRK mentions a ritual of taking a 2-hour bath on Thursday evenings to cleanse himself of the work he has done, symbolizing a mental preparation for the film's release and public reception.
• 🎥 SRK's films are characterized by hope, happiness, and love, which he aims to spread through his work, differing from his initial desire to be an action star.
• 🏠 SRK appreciates Dubai as a place of peace and enjoyment, mentioning his beautiful house and the ease of travel between Dubai and Mumbai.
• 🤔 SRK has not yet 'crossed over' into Western cinema due to a lack of substantial offers, highlighting his commitment to his craft and the audience that appreciates him.
• 🍕 After facing some career setbacks, SRK took a break to learn how to make the perfect pizza, using this time to reflect on his approach to filmmaking and his connection with his audience.
• 🙏 SRK acknowledges the importance of prayer and getting back to work after his period of introspection, which led to the successful comeback with three blockbuster films.
• 👨‍👧‍👦 Family and team support played a crucial role in SRK's decision to return to acting, as they encouraged him to focus on storytelling that resonates with his audience.
• 🔄 SRK's introspection led him to realize the need to listen to his audience and deliver stories that provide hope and happiness, rather than pursuing innovation for its own sake.
• 🌐 SRK's dream is to create a film that is loved by the whole world, one that would naturally lead to a 'crossover' rather than seeking it as an end in itself.

Q & A

How does the interviewee feel about being referred to as a legend?

The interviewee, referred to as 'SRK', humbly dismisses the notion of being a legend, stating that he is just an actor and jokingly compares himself to James Bond.

What is the significance of the number 33 in the context of the interview?

The number 33 signifies the number of years the interviewee has been actively working as an actor in the television and film industry.

What personal tragedy did the interviewee experience early in life?

The interviewee lost his parents at a very young age, which he describes as a turning point that forced him to persevere and make the most of his life.

What is the interviewee's perspective on the unpredictability of film success?

The interviewee acknowledges the unpredictability of film success, noting that films he thought would be hits sometimes flop, and vice versa, indicating that audience reception can be hard to anticipate.

What ritual does the interviewee perform after the release of his films?

The interviewee describes a ritual of taking a 2-hour bath on Thursday evenings to rinse himself of the work he has done, signifying a mental preparation for the film's reception and the next steps in his career.

Why did the interviewee turn down a role in 'Slumdog Millionaire'?

The interviewee turned down the role because he was already hosting a television show, 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire', and felt conflicted about portraying a dishonest host in the film while playing a similar role on TV.

What does the interviewee consider the quintessential SRK film to be?

The quintessential SRK film, according to the interviewee, is one that gives hope, goodness, happiness, and includes good songs, rather than focusing on action or being a seller of dreams.

How does the interviewee perceive his role in the Indian film industry?

The interviewee sees his role as bringing new technology into the Indian film industry and creating films that are loved worldwide, aiming to make a film that could cross him over to international recognition.

What activity did the interviewee engage in during a period of introspection between 2018 and 2023?

During this period, the interviewee learned how to make the best pizza in the world, which he describes as a process that taught him perseverance.

What realization did the interviewee come to after a period of less successful films?

The interviewee realized the importance of making films for the audience, understanding their wants and needs, and the need to balance innovation with what the audience desires to see.

How does the interviewee describe his relationship with Dubai?

The interviewee expresses his love for Dubai, mentioning that he has a beautiful house there, enjoys the peace it offers, and appreciates its proximity to Mumbai, making it easy for him to visit.

Outlines

00:00

😄 Iconic Actor's Journey and Philosophy

In this paragraph, the interviewee, a legendary actor, is introduced with a playful comparison to James Bond. The actor reflects on his 33-year career, emphasizing the importance of perseverance, especially after losing his parents at a young age. He discusses the unpredictability of the film industry, where both critical and commercial success are uncertain, and shares his ritual of taking a 2-hour bath to cleanse himself of the week's work, symbolizing a fresh start each Monday.

05:01

🎬 The Essence of the Actor's Filmography

The actor describes his film persona as one that spreads hope and love, often characterized by dramatic and romantic entrances. He mentions a YouTube compilation of his best entrances that his children find amusing. The discussion also touches on his preference for hopeful cinema, his love for Dubai, and the lack of substantial crossover opportunities in Western film industries. He clarifies that he has not been offered significant roles that would prompt a crossover, contrary to popular speculation.

10:02

🍕 A Period of Introspection and Personal Growth

The actor candidly shares a period of professional setbacks and personal introspection between 2018 and 2023, during which he learned to make the perfect pizza, symbolizing perseverance. He took a break from seeking stories to tell in films and focused on self-improvement. His family and team encouraged him to return to acting, recognizing his unique ability to bring hope and happiness to audiences through his films. This introspection led to a successful comeback with three blockbuster films in 2023.

15:03

🙏 Returning to Work with a Renewed Focus

The final paragraph highlights the actor's realization of the importance of creating content for the audience and the need to balance innovation with audience expectations. He acknowledges the need to listen to the crowds and return to making films that inspire hope and happiness. The actor also emphasizes the importance of prayer and hard work, concluding the interview with a humorous reference to his earlier joke about being Bond, James Bond.

Keywords

💡perseverance

Perseverance refers to the quality of continuing in a course of action despite difficulty or opposition. In the video's theme, it is highlighted as a key to the long-term success of the interviewee, who had to overcome personal loss and challenges in his career. The interviewee mentions that he had no option but to persevere, which is exemplified by his journey from being a young orphan to achieving stardom.

💡star

A star in the context of the video refers to a well-known actor who has achieved significant fame and recognition in the entertainment industry. The interviewee is addressed as a star, indicating his high status and the respect he commands. His long career and the level of stardom he has reached are central to the discussion about his achievements.

💡orphan

An orphan is a child who has lost both parents. In the script, the interviewee's status as a young orphan is mentioned as a significant factor that influenced his life and career. It is a key part of his narrative, showing how early adversity shaped his resilience and determination.

💡ritual

A ritual is a series of actions performed mostly the same way each time, often as part of a cultural or religious practice. The interviewee describes a personal ritual of taking a 2-hour bath after the release of his films to cleanse himself of the work done. This ritual is tied to his process of dealing with the outcomes of his films, whether they are hits or flops.

💡flop

In the film industry, a flop refers to a movie that fails to find an audience and is not commercially successful. The interviewee discusses the unpredictability of film success, mentioning instances where films he thought would do well turned out to be flops, and vice versa. This concept is integral to the discussion of the challenges and uncertainties in his career.

💡hope

Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen. The interviewee expresses a desire to bring hope to his audience through his films. He mentions that even in sad or tragic films, he aims to provide a sense of hope, which is a central theme in his approach to storytelling.

💡crossover

Crossover in the context of the video refers to an actor moving from one cultural or regional film industry to another, often from a local to a more global platform. The interviewee discusses the lack of substantial offers for crossover roles, indicating that despite his international fame, he has not yet transitioned to acting in Hollywood or English films.

💡introspection

Introspection is the process of self-examination or self-analysis. The interviewee underwent a period of introspection after a series of unsuccessful films, which led him to reassess his approach to his work. This introspection is highlighted as a turning point that helped him understand his audience better and return with successful films.

💡pizza

In a light-hearted segment of the script, the interviewee humorously discusses learning to make the best pizza in the world during his period of introspection. This anecdote serves to humanize the star and show his perseverance in an unexpected context, illustrating his dedication to mastering any skill, whether it's acting or pizza-making.

💡audience

The audience refers to the people who watch and appreciate the films the interviewee stars in. Throughout the script, the importance of understanding and catering to the audience's preferences is emphasized. The interviewee realizes that he needed to focus on what the audience wanted to see, which was a key factor in his return to making successful films.

💡pray

To pray is to engage in a form of communication with a deity or a higher power. The interviewee mentions the importance of prayer in his life, suggesting that it is a part of his process and possibly a source of strength and guidance during challenging times in his career.

Highlights

Crystalina Gava is intimidated by the person she's about to interview, referring to SRK as a legend.

SRK humorously identifies himself as 'Bond James Bond', playing along with the interview's light-hearted tone.

SRK has been actively working in the film industry for 33 years, reflecting on his long and successful career.

The interview discusses the importance of perseverance in SRK's journey to stardom.

SRK talks about losing his parents at a young age and how it shaped his determination to succeed.

SRK's ritual of taking a 2-hour bath on Thursday evenings to cleanse himself of the week's work is revealed.

SRK humorously invites the interviewer to join him in his bath ritual, maintaining the interview's playful tone.

SRK emphasizes the need to move on from both successes and failures in the film industry to continue creating.

The quintessential SRK film is described as one that gives hope, happiness, and good songs.

SRK discusses his children's playful teasing about his dramatic entrances in films.

SRK expresses his desire to give hope through his films, avoiding hopeless stories.

SRK enjoys living in Dubai, appreciating the peace and privacy it offers him.

SRK clarifies that he has not been offered substantial work in Western cinema, contrary to popular belief.

SRK turned down a role in 'Slumdog Millionaire' due to conflicting character portrayals with his TV show.

SRK's experience hosting a quiz show and his genuine desire for contestants to win is shared.

SRK's dream is to make a film that is loved worldwide and naturally leads to a crossover.

During a period of introspection, SRK learned to make the best pizza in the world, reflecting on perseverance.

SRK's return to acting was influenced by his family's encouragement and a realization of his audience's preferences.

SRK concludes the interview with the importance of prayer and getting back to work after periods of reflection.

Transcripts

it's not

often that I'm downright

intimidated by the person I'm about to

interview crystalina

Gava easy for

lunch but

srk is a

legend aren't you you're being very

sweet uh Richard like I told you I'm not

a legend I'm Bond James

Bond I told you that at the backstage

say that again go on what's what's your

name Bond James

[Music]

Bond would you like to play

Bond I I'd really wanted to but I think

I'm too

short what about Bon baddy baddy yes of

course I'm Brown

enough

if we look at your career how many years

now I think actively including

television uh 33 years now I've been

actively working as an act actor but to

have reached the level of stardom that

you have

reached and for the length of time is

quite an achievement it's more than that

it's a huge achievement but it just it

speaks to more than just obviously the

raw talent but it also speaks to

perseverance the ability to keep going

which is something that's so

crucial um I yeah I think it's uh you

know perseverance is uh I think it

happens to some people uh you don't have

any option but to persevere so maybe

when I was young I lost my parents very

early and then you realize that okay

there's no rewinding this there's no

coming back from death and you have to

continue make the most of what you have

so I was kind of a youngish orphan and I

had to work my way through it or it

could be be just part of nature you know

it's the nature of the Beast that you uh

are just with dogged determination you

keep on working uh where does that come

from I don't know I I've always tried to

analyze it that you know why do I do

what I do why do I wake up in the

morning and just start doing it all over

again even when it's uh um I I think it

taught me you know the work that I do uh

making films um you know the result

happens very suddenly you think you've

made the best of films you think it's

the nicest of stories to tell you think

the world is going to love it and you

wake up on a Friday e morning and

realize it's the biggest flop of your

career and you're like which happened

which happens yeah which happens more

often than not or sometimes you don't

like a film and that becomes the biggest

hit of your career and you say like how

did this happen but what I realized and

I want to say this to everyone actually

and I say this to everyone who's working

with me or people who know me that on

Thursday evening because our films

release on Fridays mostly or Thursday

evenings here in Dubai so Thursday

evening at home in Mumbai i r R myself

with a 2-hour bath and rinse myself of

the work that I've done because what

happens oh hang on yeah let's let's talk

about that bath it's it's a ritual yeah

is it a ritual I mean do you put special

oils and scents do you have bath salts

do you prepare with candles I'm not I'm

not telling you my secret you come and

take a bath with

me easy I I show I'm an actor I'll show

you how to do it should I take him up on

his offer

you carry on Sir okay no but honestly I

I do because you know I realize when you

do a big hit film it's done well and

you're very happy and everybody's

jumping around Friday happens Saturday

happens Sunday happens and you realize

this is a big Blockbuster but Monday I

have to get back to work to make a

better film you made a flop film Friday

you're sad Saturday you're crying Sunday

You're moping and you're not waking up

from bed Monday you have to get back to

work and start making a better film so

Mondays are for trying to make better

films always so you have to persevere

okay but let me be crude you don't need

the money no I need the money oh you do

the bath oils are very

expensive fine what's if you had to

define the

quintessential srk film what would it

be I've said this before I was telling

you uh behind I don't know when it

happened Richard to to be honest I

didn't realize it I never wanted to be

someone who's like I say uh pedling love

or or seller of dreams I wanted to be an

action guy with eight packs and beat up

people being a white uh vest girl on my

side with the Glock in my hand and uh

speak in

bone and things like that but I never

got the opportunity I don't know when I

started off suddenly everybody started

think of me as someone who who's uh uh

you know promising hope giving hope and

spreading love uh like I spread my arms

again and again so I think my regular

film would be a film that gives you hope

gives you goodness gives you happiness

and at the end of it all lots of good

songs yes but you've also if there's a

there's a great YouTube video 4 minutes

of of your best entrances yeah and

there's a lot of action in them yeah

only entries no exits I just keep

entering again and again my kids get

very you know when I I have three kids

and uh whenever that video plays and I

have to tell you a secret we've compiled

it from the office I think it looks just

very cool it's not made by others we've

made it so whenever a show like this

happens and if you allow me to show a

video here we'll show you me just

entering some places and very

dramatically and romantically but my

kids make a lot of fun of it you know

whenever I get a little serious with

them they'll just look at me and say oh

my God he's is doing those entries from

his video

Sr K so it it does become a you want to

give us a oh yeah I can do that I can do

that yeah with your permission sir we'll

if it's okay yeah yeah go go

on is there something you would not

do on screen on on screen I I don't know

I wouldn't be uh I'd like to give hope

in my films the stories that I tell I

hope they end with hope I know I've done

some really sad films also I've done

films where which are tragedies but

somewhere down the line I just hope that

I can give hope in films so I don't like

to give hopeless Cinema or hopeless

stories because I think uh in life and

in businesses and in jobs and world

there's enough uh sadness So you you're

extremely well known here obviously

because of the Indian population that is

here and elsewhere but you like it here

you have you have a home you you are you

are not a hair today gone tomorrow

person for Dubai no no no no I spent a

lot of time here I have a beautiful

house which has been given to me by nil

and uh it's one of the nicest places in

the world because nobody troubles me and

his Excellency the Prime Minister also

just told me that he stays next to it um

so the next New Year party is with him

uh he's a good neighbor but it's it's

really nice I really really enjoy being

in Dubai I really love being here and

you find the jux the position with going

back to to to Mumbai no this is very

easy it's just 2 and a half hours away

so I keep dropping in um we we come with

the kids and there's so much to do here

I'm sounding like the uh uh tourist

ambassador of Dubai suddenly

right everybody asks about

crossover and I'm no

different um because the more I

researched you the more I wondered I

mean all right supposedly 2011 DiCaprio

never happened supposedly allegedly Slum

Dog Millionaire you turned down

allegedly why hasn't the crossover taken

place I don't see why it should you're a

big enough name in your own uh genre but

why has crossover not taken

place I've said this honestly but nobody

believes it so I'm going to say it to

you very very honestly nobody's ever

offered me any work uh crossover of uh

substance I may have had conversations

with people I know lots of lovely people

from the west from the English film

industry from the American film industry

but nobody's offered me uh any good work

you know I hear actors talk about oh yes

I want to crossover I want to take

Indian Cinema I think I'm U I still have

to learn how to be able to deliver to

the audience that likes me and you know

instead of spreading myself too thin and

then yeah of course if you've not been

offered a job how do you take it so

really I've never been offered a film in

uh Hollywood or in uh England yes Slum

Dog was there um now that you mention it

and uh I spent a lot of time with Mr Bo

he's very sweet uh but I was doing uh

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire on

television successfully successfully at

that time and I just felt uh in the

story that was being told the guy who

was hosting was very mean uh in the

story that was being told and I'm like

you know I'm here uh doing uh Slum Dog

milliona and the guys who were producing

the show wanted me to do the film I just

found it you know this guy's I was

cheating and being dishonest as the host

so I just found that it's very strange

that I'm being a host and I'm cheating

in the film so I explained to Mr Bo that

I wouldn't like to do it please and they

are way better actors than me and I

think Mr Anil Kapoor did it and he was

fantastic as the

host when the person's getting close to

a million well the the the top in in uh

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire that

moment what do you

feel genuinely when I was hosting it I

would uh hope they win it I really

really hope they but I've done a quiz

show

myself and there comes a

point when you think how close can I get

to getting them to win it without yeah

did you know what I mean I I always did

that you know when I was uh because this

so many people from different parts of

the country and I really want them to

win and you yes you do try to be a

little helpful but you can't you can't

you can't because the producer keeps

shouting in your ears don't youve said

enough you can't talk about it and

unfortunately the last four questions or

the last two questions are extremely

difficult you know suddenly they're

thrown upon you and you're like oh my

God this person is not going to get the

answer and I feel really bad and I try

to think I wish I had some hint and I

can't mislead the person by trying to

give that hint because I also mostly

didn't know the answer

so in what is left that you have not

done that you would like to do and and

by that I I I I that's not a Hollywood

question that is a general you know even

within your own with within Indian films

within production within what what what

Still Remains on your

list so Richard when I started off I

just wanted to survive uh you know be

able to get a week's work or a month's

work or a Year's work and say okay my

films should do well but as years have

gone past I think um this whole U my

whole job has become more and more

motivated towards bringing a new one

technology into Indian film industry uh

I want to end my career Which is far

from ending right now I have another

good 35 years to go I really really want

to make that film which is uh loved by

the whole world and then nobody on a big

stage like this asks me why haven't you

crossed over that film should cross me

over that's my

dream I I I'd want you to learn Hindi

and Udu and Arabic to be able to

understand that

film did you f did you go on a massive

Retreat of personal introspection

between 20 18 and 2023 you just had two

or three films that were not as

successful suddenly he disappears and

everybody thinks oh he's licking his

wounds he's feeling sorry for himself

he's what and then he comes back in 23

with three Blockbusters what was going

on in that inrim period so you kind yes

I had uh massive flops and they did very

very badly and I was doing all of that I

was licking my wounds I was uh not in

you know what I did yeah for 4

years I've never said this to anyone

though I've mentioned it but but today

here I'll tell everyone I learned how to

make the best pizza in the world that's

what I did honest to God I stopped

listening to stories I stopped wanting

to tell stories I found myself and made

myself a small kitchen and I started

learning how to make pizzas and I

learned what you asked me right to begin

with perseverance because to get the

perfect Pizza it takes millions of

square pizzas before you're able to make

it completely round so I learned

perseverance and I will make the best

best pizza in the world can

you

no I'm working on it next four years

when you don't see me but was it a

difficult

moment when your wife and your family

and everybody said will you stop making

pizza go back to work was it difficult

to know now is the time to go back yeah

actually you know there was was always a

toss-up um I was very glad my family

didn't tell me listen your pizzas are

better than your films stop making films

so so I was glad they turned around and

said no as good as your pizza is I think

your films are better they were very

encouraging especially my children my

team uh some of them are sitting here

and they said okay what you're going to

do is uh tell stories and you know I had

become indulgent I started becoming too

Innovative I was looking for Perfection

and I started failing I needed to look

for excellent I needed to be unique but

I needed to look at the audience what

they want and i' stopped hearing the

crowds I used to go where there are

thousands and lacks of people waving at

me but I wouldn't hear or feel what they

wanted to see of me you know I was going

there and waving and I'm saying whatever

I make I'll be Innovative so I did a

film about a vertically challenged guy I

did a film about a manic Psychopathic

fan and I'm like no people just like to

see me giving hope and happiness and

love so let's get back to that and as a

result

the movies that you came back to make

and there were three of them last year

were huge

successes therefore that introspection

clearly worked that clearly did the

trick yes mashallah I think uh um I

think it just helped me uh realize that

whatever you do you have to do for the

people or your consumers or your

audiences and yeah it also made me

realize uh one very main thing that

don't forget to pray you have to pray

and you have to get back to work sir

I'm going to leave you with one I'm

sorry I've forgotten what was your name

again your name is B Bond James Bond

he's available for the authors thank you

sir thank you so much everyone

good