I’ll be around for the next 15 years, says Shah Rukh Khan

From television to super stardom in films — it’s been 25 years since Shah Rukh Khan entered Bollywood with Hema Malini’s Dil Aashna Hai. At the launch of his biography, SRK 25 Years of a Life, penned by Samar Khan, the actor evidently couldn’t come to terms with the fact that it had been 25 long years since his baby steps in the film industry. “Today when I was setting out to reach this venue, I was telling my family, ‘lagta nahi hai itne saal beet gaye hai .25 years makes me feel old.’ So I just tried to blacken my moustache, which made me feel young,” he says with his signature charm.

He offered guests a flashback into his life. “When I first landed at Mumbai’s airport, I did not have any address to go to. But I have been able to make it here because of a few filmmakers. Bollywood is my extended family,” he smiled.

The actor mentioned a few filmmakers who helped him along the way. “Aziz Mirza, Col. Kapoor, Karan Johar, Yashji, Aditya Chopra and Kundan Shah have all played a pivotal role in making my Bollywood journey successful. I also believe in destiny and fate, that’s been very kind to me. I never found my persona and looks so electrifying anyway,” said the actor.

Of course, there were the naysayers too. SRK recalled, “Some directors said that ‘shaadi karne ke bad koi hero nahin ban pata’. Surprisingly, Baazigar, the first film which I signed after my marriage got me a Filmfare award in the Best Actor category.”

That, of course, was first of the many trophies that sit pretty on his mantle today. A big reason for that, he says with much nonchalance, is that he has never shied away from working hard. “When I agree to a role, I do everything that it demands. I am confident of being in films for another 10 to 15 years, as my energy is intact. Main agale 10-15 saal tak aur kam kar sakta hoon.” he exulted.

Shah Rukh fondly remembered his mother at the book launch too. Speaking of whom, he said, “My mom always taught me to respect women. Though I romance all of my heroines on screen, I do not have the guts to romance them or make them dance (off screen). They take the lead and help me dance to the tune of their music!”

The actor added, “My mother taught me to behave respectfully with others. She told me that if I were to find myself in the company of army personnels, I should behave like them. I believe her teachings have enabled me to become ‘Romance ka badshah’. In reality though, I am quite shy. I can only spread my arms to the best of my ability.”