Eight years ago, the death knell of Shah Rukh Khan’s career was sounded with the underwhelming reception of his 2018 romantic fantasy Zero. The actor didn’t take on any more commitments and decided to go on a year-long break before deciding his next moves. That one year became two, three, and then four, thanks to the pandemic, post which he returned with a bang, with Siddharth Anand’s Pathaan, Atlee’s Jawan, and Rajkumar Hirani’s Dunki.
As people around the globe returned to their families during the Covid-19 pandemic, Shah Rukh reconnected with his family too. Always a hands-on father, he was never distant from his three kids—Aryan Khan, Suhana Khan, and AbRam Khan. But spending undivided time with them made him value what he has and return to form with a renewed vigor. “My children are my best critics! My family is my North Star, who keeps me grounded and reminds me of what truly matters, no matter how busy life becomes,” Shah Rukh Khan tells SCREEN in an exclusive interview. “Legacy isn’t solely defined by professional achievements, but by the values and memories I share with my family. While I pursue my passions and work, I never lose sight of the simple joys of being a father,” he adds.
As my children were growing up, it became a staple of our family movie nights, and sharing its magic with them remains one of my fondest memories. Since then, that connection has only deepened, with my children themselves becoming an integral part of this story,” says Shah Rukh. His younger son AbRam joined them in Barry Jenkins’ Mufasa, voicing the younger version of the titular character.
“I’m incredibly proud of my children. It’s been a privilege watching them come into their own as performers and individuals,” says Shah Rukh, admitting that he was surprised by his cubs’ quick dominance over the hunting ground that was the recording studio. “Doing voiceover work is always interesting. It flexes a different type of acting muscle, and I loved connecting with my kids on that creative level. Although I showed them the ropes, they opened my eyes to new perspectives through their curiosity and imagination,” adds SRK.
Shah Rukh remembers being that cub lost in the woods that was Mumbai once he moved to the city from his hometown, Delhi. With his late parents watching over him, he found great comfort in standing next to the sea, which he describes as a “quiet companion” throughout his life. “When I first came to Mumbai, there was a moment early on—standing by the water, with very little certainty and a lot of hope—when I thought to myself about who I wanted to become. That moment has stayed with me ever since,” recalls Shah Rukh.
Over 35 years later, Shah Rukh Khan now lives at Mannat, a palatial bungalow that faces the Arabian Sea. While that’s no mean feat given where he comes from, the sea is also a constant, friendly reminder of his unique yet miniscule place in the universe.
