Shah Rukh Khan, the reigning ‘Baadshah’ of Bollywood, has come a long way since his early days. His journey began in the 1980s with several TV shows before making his film debut in Deewana in 1992. Though his film career took off a bit later, Shah Rukh’s determination and commitment were even clearer before he became a widely known star.
In a recent episode of the Cyrus Says podcast, screenwriter Mushtaq Shiekh shared a fascinating anecdote about his early interaction with Shah Rukh. Shiekh, then a freelance journalist, had interviewed SRK while he was still a budding star. “I remember the funniest story here is that when I take his story to my editor to print it in the magazine, it’s not considered cool enough because he is not a film star," Sheikh recalled.
Despite Shah Rukh’s immense popularity on television, he was not yet a film star. Thus, his story was deemed unfit for the film-centric magazine. “G magazine was all about film stars, and he was huge on television. Massive, but not in films. So at that time, obviously, as a freelancer, stories can be rejected, and you’re supposed to take it on your chin and move. I was like, ‘Okay, but I don’t know what to do, but the copy was excellent. He was brilliant’," Shiekh told Cyrus Broacha.
Shiekh further described SRK’s charisma even back then, saying, “I want to give you a sure short guarantee that he was exactly as sparkling, brilliant, and witty as he is today. That first interview had quotes like, ‘I want to be number one; I am number one; I will be number one.’"
Shiekh emphasised that SRK’s confidence and humour were exceptional. “He knew what he was saying, and I thought there was a crackling sense of humour that he had in his humour and the way he spoke. And he had a way to look at the film industry that nobody else had because I think he gave a rat’s ass to anyone there that time," he added.
Despite the rejection, Shiekh revealed that he interviewed 16 other ‘Khans’ to get SRK’s copy published, but “none of them" are in the film industry today.
Later, when Shah Rukh became a major star, the magazine that had initially rejected him wanted to interview him. “After that, Shah Rukh becomes a big star. And then G magazine wants his interview," he shared, adding that at that point, Shah Rukh told the magazine that he “will only speak to Mushtaq."
Mushtaq Shiekh eventually collaborated with Shah Rukh on several films, including as the writer of his blockbuster hit Om Shanti Om starring Deepika Padukone.
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