Calling himself "the Indian for all ages", superstar Shah Rukh Khanon Wednesday spoke about the personal and professional challenges he faced in the past five years and thanked fans for turning up in hordes to watch his films in 2023.
The actor was speaking at the CNN-News18 Indian of the Year 2023, where he was presented with the titular honour.
"I don't feel like the Indian of the Year. I feel I've been the Indian of all the years gone by. I will be the Indian for all the years to come. I'm actually the Indian for all ages...
"Loads of you came to watch my films. Some of you may have not even liked them but I hope deep down inside you came there to support me and my family. I bow down to you and thank you for bringing cheer to my family and making me the star I am, yet again," Shah Rukh said in his acceptance speech as he dedicated the award to his family.
After a string of flops, Shah Rukh took a self-imposed sabbatical post the release of Zero in 2018. Tough times hit home when his eldest son Aryan Khan spent 22 days in jail after being arrested in connection with the Mumbai cruise drugs case in 2021.
Following Aryan's arrest, the family was under intense media scrutiny, and was the subject of much speculation and innuendo but also received ample support from fans, industry friends as well as colleagues. In 2022, Aryan was cleared of all charges.
Shah Rukh, 58, spoke about how life hit him at a time when he was also going through a professional slump.
"The last four-five years have been a bit of a ride for me and my family. I'm sure for some of you also because of Covid. Most of my films flopped, lots of analysts started writing my death knell.
"And then, at a personal (level), a little bit of bothersome and unpleasant things also happened, to say the least, which made me learn a lesson: keep quiet and work hard with dignity," he added.
While he called himself "impetuous", like a modern-day actor, and someone who may take bad decisions, Shah Rukh said he believes that goodness begets goodness.
"I'm a guy who's hopeful and tells happy stories. The heroes I play do good things, they give hope and happiness. If I play a bad guy, I make sure he suffers a lot, and that he dies a dog's death. Because I believe goodness begets goodness and badness deserves a kick in the backside."
Quoting the popular dialogue "Picture abhi baaqi hai mere dost" from his film "Om Shanti Om", the actor said it is during the testing times that one needs to be a hopeful, happy, and honest storyteller.
"Think of it as a nasty plot twist, not the story you are living. And 100 per cent that's not how stories end," he added.
Shah Rukh also said he signs films on the spur of the moment, without thinking about the box office performance.
"I just say yes to a film. Then, I stay awake all night because I'm futuristic. And wait for someone from the future to come and tell me 'Bro, this is a bad decision'. More often than not, nobody comes and I wake up in the morning, I've signed this film and I'm doing it," he added.
There are thousands of people behind the success of his films, Shah Rukh said as he named his Jawan music composer Anirudh Ravichander, who received the Youth Icon Award at the event.
In 2023, the actor returned to films with three back-to-back blockbusters Pathaan, Jawan, and Dunki.
But Shah Rukh said he hadn't made a "comeback" to the movies.
"It's not a comeback, it is actually the reiteration of the fact that I belong and should continue to act and not learn pasta and pizza," he said.
The actor, who made his film debut with 1992's Deewana, also said he was now "hungrier" as that's what one has to be if they have to keep doling out entertainment year after year for 140 crore people.
"It's been a long time since I won an award. I had started thinking that I was doomed or destined to win one of these lifetime achievement awards at these loud and colourful TV award shows which unfortunately I've also hosted," he said, adding that he was "hungry" quoting his character Vikram Rathore from Jawan.
Shah Rukh also had an interesting conversation with his Dil Se director Mani Ratnam, who was presented with the Indian Of The Year Award (Entertainment).
The actor said he was ready to do "Chhaiya Chhaiya", the train song from Dil Se, this time on a plane if Ratnam and he were to work on another film.
Ratnam, then, said he would have to buy a plane first, to which the actor replied that the way his films were performing at the box office, it would not be a big deal to buy one.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.