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Journalists often fight shy of doing a piece on a celebrity in crosshairs with law enforcement agencies. Silence seems to be the better part of valour till the haze lifts and facts become clearer. Nevertheless, fans of Shah Rukh Khan are grieving more for him than his beleaguered son, as his family battles the current crisis.
It’s difficult to not be a part of a film star’s life. As we cinemagoers laugh, cry get angry and rebellious along with the character being played by an actor, we also carry within ourselves a certain part of our heroes as we walk out of a movie theatre.
Sharukh rules millions of hearts even beyond borders for his endearing cinema and the characters he has played. Most journalist feel an affinity for him as they have either, interviewed, written pieces or have reviewed his film. Shahrukh began his career doing negative roles. Though I ignored these films finding his acting a tad over the top, I became an SRK fan in October 1995 when Dilwale Dulhaniye Le Jayenge released around Diwali. I remember smiling and chuckling while writing a review of the film and had even written that this film can be seen any number of times. And it sure was, considering it ran for 25 years in a theatre.
On the big screen, Shah Rukh has dazzled with films like Swades, Check De, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa. On the small screen from where he began his career with Fauji, he came that much closer to his fans with his wit and wisecracks during the shows he hosted. At events it is his straightforwardness that endears. During film promotions he remains diffident and even self-deprecating. It is these traits that make him connect easily with his fans.
His popularity overseas is immense as when identified as an Indian, what follows for a tourist is the name Shah Rukh Khan or a song from one of his innumerable films. He remains deeply embedded in the hearts of his fans as Rahul or Raj.
Shah Rukh however appeals the most as one who dotes on his family. It strings well with the modest middle class image that he has made no effort to shun. The talk always swivels around his days in Delhi, his pursuit for success in Mumbai. Even in his films he manages to convey his sensitivity and inherent decency whatever part he may have played. Monikers like King Khan, Badshah or King of Romance do not take away from the aura of simplicity, gentlemanliness and ordinariness that surrounds him.
It is for this reason that his fans and even those who are not, are able to feel his distress and pain as his son remains in custody, and are carrying such empathy for him. In his interviews SRK never tires of stressing that he firmly believes in goodness and humanity. It remains to be seen if this belief will withstand the test of such trying times.
Till then this poem by Akhil Katyal sums up the star:
Wo Kabhi Rahul hai, kabhi Raj
Kabhi Charlie toh kabhi Max
Surinder bhi wo, Harry bhi wo
Devdas bhi aur Veer bhi
Ram, Mohan, Kabir bhi
Wo Amar hai, Samar hai
Rizwan, Raees, Jehangir bhi
Shayad isliye kuch logon ke halak mein fasta hai
Ki ek Shahrukh mein pura hindustan basta hai
…Akhil Katyal
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