NEW DELHI: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was honoured with the Pardo Alla Carriera Award at the Locarno Film Festival on August 10, a prestigious recognition of his illustrious career.
Reflecting on his enduring stardom during a fan interaction session, Shah Rukh Khan shared a candid perspective. “I treat stardom like a T-shirt, not a tuxedo. It’s there, but it’s not of paramount importance to me. I’m quite carefree about it, and I hope it stays that way,” he remarked.
Shah Rukh also delved into his experiences working on the 2016 film Fan, where he portrayed both a superstar and his obsessive admirer. Speaking on the complexities of the role, he explained, “Typically, playing a superstar in a film is all about grandeur and adulation. But I wanted to depict a character who is afraid of his fame, which was challenging because it’s like revealing a vulnerability that many stars may feel but rarely express.”
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He described the dual role as “very schizophrenic, very strange, and very awkward,” admitting that it made him feel like he was two different people. Interestingly, he shared that the jaw prosthetic used for his character in Fan was originally crafted for Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
When questioned about what continues to motivate him after decades in the industry, Shah Rukh expressed his passion for bringing joy to his audience. “Cinema reflects so many aspects of life and emotions that it’s almost impossible for one person to capture them all in a single lifetime. I continue to work with the hope that I can explore new facets in every film I do,” he said.
At the event, Shah Rukh also touched on a variety of topics, including his family life and the upcoming film King, directed by Sujoy Ghosh, which will feature his daughter Suhana Khan and Abhishek Bachchan. While details about the film remain under wraps, fans are eagerly awaiting an official announcement.