Long before he became the ‘King of Bollywood,’ Shah Rukh Khan never intended to be in films at all. In a throwback interview from the early days of his career, the actor opened up about how his journey into cinema began unexpectedly—and how he viewed fellow stars Salman Khan and Aamir Khan at the time.
From Fauji to the film sets of Mumbai
In conversation with Lehren Retro, Shah Rukh revealed that his entry into films was never part of the plan. After gaining popularity with his television debut Fauji, he began receiving film offers. However, at the time, he was focused on completing his master’s degree in Mass Communication and continued working on other TV shows like Dil Dariya, Umeed, and Circus. It was only after being approached by filmmakers, including Hema Malini and Ramesh Sippy, that he decided to move to Mumbai. Treating it as a one-year experiment, he signed five films—three of which had already released by the time he gave the interview.
Despite his modest beginnings and initial reluctance, the actor’s brief “experiment” with films soon catapulted him into superstardom. His early success not only marked the start of a legendary career but also redefined the Bollywood hero for a new generation.
On Salman and Aamir: No rivalry, only respect
In the same interview, SRK reflected on frequent comparisons with contemporaries Aamir Khan and Salman Khan—both of whom were already prominent names in the industry when he debuted. Rather than competing, SRK expressed admiration, calling Salman the “biggest” and Aamir the “finest” stars of their time.
‘Every actor has his own space’
He dismissed the notion of rivalry or replacement when asked about comparisons with Salman Khan and Aamir Khan. He acknowledged Salman as one of the biggest stars and praised Aamir as the finest actor in the country. Rather than seeing himself as a replacement for anyone, Shah Rukh emphasized that he carved out his own space in the industry. In his view, every actor brings a unique style, and success comes not from being better than others, but from offering something distinctive to the audience.Over three decades later, Shah Rukh, Aamir, and Salman Khan continue to dominate Bollywood, alongside Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar. All five began their careers in the late ’80s and early ’90s and remain major box office draws today.
