In confusion and chaos, in clarity about personality and sexuality, Shah Rukh Khan was there. Filmmaker Karan Johar has opened up about how the superstar was the first person in his life who made him feel like an “equal”, after years of being misunderstood or made fun of, reports The Indian Express.
Johar said his parents were not being to understand things about him and his “feminine side” was only met with laughter. The only shining light, Karan said, was Shah Rukh who came to his life without any judgement.
In the latest episode of Be A Man Yaar with Nikhil Taneja, Karan said, “I think the first person that made me feel that I was ok was Shah Rukh Khan. He was born and brought up in a very progressive environment. He had come from theater, he had worked with all kinds of people, and I think my parents were not being able to understand things.
“I felt that the feminine side that I had that was coming out so strongly was only met with laughter or being made fun of. Then when I grew older people got a little quieter about it but I could tell that there was a chitter-chatter around maybe the way I walked, or spoke or things. I remember Shah Rukh Khan was the first man that did not make me feel any lesser.”
The filmmaker said Shah Rukh made him feel “like an equal” and wholly accepted things about him-which others would mock him for. “I feel like he accepted what in those days were considered being a pansy, or being effeminate or walking funny and he was just so cool about it, about everything.
“He used to have a lot of open chats with me, and I felt like even when I had to say the biggest thing about my personality and sexuality, I spoke to him first. I felt like he would be that one influence or that one sense of support that even he hasn’t realised that he has been to me. So yes, it was first Shah Rukh and it still remains Shah Rukh.”
During the episode, the filmmaker also recalled how when he pretended to be in love with a girl in 10th standard, he got his first “reality check”.
“She was the Head Girl. Everybody in the 10th standard was crushing on some girl, so I thought I should join this bandwagon otherwise how do I… So I pretended that I was crushing on her and gave her a card on Rose Day, not Valentine’s Day. She took the card and called me and actually maybe she was my first reality check.
“She said, ‘You didn’t really want to give me this rose, did you?” I said, ‘No I really think you are nice, I like you.’ She said, ‘Yes, but you don’t want to give me this card or rose.’ I thought it was rather evolved of her because I really didn’t! So yes, I have exchanged but for all the wrong reasons and to be obviously very cool,” he added.
On the work front, Shah Rukh Khan will be next seen in Dunki, which is gearing up for a grand December 22 release. This will be his third film of the year after Pathaan and Jawan.