Shah Rukh Khan shares his Dubai love affair... and what makes him tick

He’s undoubtedly one of Bollywood’s greatest stars, and people all over the world go weak in the knee when they watch him as much as stretch his arms out while a romantic tune blares in the background or crinkle his facial muscles while flashing his deep dimples.
 
While movie critics might not vouch for his acting chops, his fans have remained loyal, and the euphoria is seen to be believed.
 
At an event it was extremely overwhelming to watch women and men howl, scream, screech, and chant ‘I love you’, when they saw SRK.
 
And, it’s this inexplicable madness that appears to be the star’s driving force.
 
“I just want to make people happy. I feel extremely satisfied and feel wanted,” he confesses.
 
“I have never worked for posterity or prosperity. I just work for the happiness I feel right now. I guess that’s what keeps me going.
 
“When I hear them say ‘WOW’, this is what I want to do... move people. I just want to keep on working, and dancing and making people happy.”
 
And, the expectations have also lowered over the years, he admits.
 
“Now, I’ve noticed that over the years people don’t except much from me. They just want me to come and smile and be nice.”
 
Probably a hint at why he’s happy doing out-and-out Bollywood commercial cinema, instead of attempting something more challenging.
 
After the massive box-office success of his recent rom-com ‘Chennai Express’, which is touted as the biggest grosser of all times, he has started filming for the next masala movie – best bud Farah Khan’s ‘Happy New Year’. And, between all this, he is even prepping for a Bollywood tour in Dubai this December.
 
Clearly, his recent surgery to set right a bruised shoulder isn’t slowing him down either.
 
For an actor in his late-40s, surely there’s some magic to the madness.
 
“A lot of people might crib about going to work, but I just can’t do without it. There’s no life I have besides my family and my work.
 
“All my co-stars, directors, friends, my staff... turn around and ask me to relax and take it easy. But I can’t do it because I don’t know when this is all going to end.
 
“I do get depressed if I don’t work. Even, if it is just for a couple of days I get a headache,” he laughs.
 
Clearly the hard work has paid off. SRK, however, isn’t willing to attribute his success to just that.
 
“I have no understanding of why good things happen. I wouldn’t even teach my children about how to lead their lives so that they become successful. Things just happen to people,” he reasons.
 
But, he’ll admit that part of the magic rests on his simplicity.
 
“I keep it extremely simple. I have never talked about business acumen or money or fame.
 
“I wake up just like any other normal person, get ready and go to work. And, I try my best. Some days I fail, some days I do well. I come back in the night, have a little bit of dinner. Keep myself awake by watching a movie or reading a book. And, spend some time with the kids.”
 
Surely, managing money and fame would require a little more than just that.
 
But, SRK stands by his claim.
 
“I have kept it very simple. I have no understanding of the money part. And that’s being honest. I have no understanding of how to handle fame.
 
“The only thing I know is that I have got a lot more than I deserve. And, I want to return it. And, the only way I can is by making people happy.
 
“It’s as simple as that. I work for those smiles. I just want to make people happy.”
 
In fact, he insists that he doesn’t even know whether he manages money or fame better.
 
“I do understand a little bit of money. Allah has been kind. I have a lot of it. My shoes are really expensive. I didn’t even think that I could buy shoes like this. There are good things around.
 
“Having said that if I didn’t have so much, I’d still be happy if I could perform and make everyone happy.”
 
So, while SRK continues to live out his dream, mere mortals like us, can only dream on!

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