Feature: The SRK Revelations, a Fangirl Story
This ran in FEMINA, where I was working at the time I met the Bollywood superstar.
I cannot, in all honesty, say that meeting Shah Rukh Khan changed my life. But yes, it shattered some long-held myths and reinforced some others.
The meeting occurred when SRK was shooting in my office for his home production ‘Phir Bhi Dil Hain Hindustani.’
When the news sizzled – and I use the word ‘sizzled’ advisedly – upwards to the fourth floor of the Times Building, it caused a flutter in the Femina office, where I was at the time.
A couple of journalists shrieked, one was seen smoothing her hair and the Beauty Editor actually pulled out her compact.
Myth shattered: That hard-bitten journalists for whom seeing/meeting celebrities is all in a day’s work, are a blasé lot. Not.
After smoothing my hair (okay, that was me!), I went over to the Filmfare desk and infusing a sense of urgency in my tone, told them they must bring SRK to our floor.
After the initial amusement subsided, the Filmfare guys realised we were serious (by then, I had backing), and that their image as star buddies was at stake. SRK was there for a day, but we were their colleagues with unlimited heckling potential for life.
Myth reinforced: Women will take devious routes to get their way.
The Filmfare journalists delivered.
Mid-morning, SRK walked into our office area. He was singularly unremarkable in appearance, a nut-brown complexion and a prominent nose being his chief characteristics.
That didn’t stop us drooling.
He looked a trifle uneasy and uncomfortable when the aforementioned Beauty Editor walked over to him, arm outstretched, hand held stiff in anticipation of a momentous shake, announcing in a bell-like tone, “I’m such a great fan of yours!”
Myth demolished: That women acquire maturity as they age and lose all the giddiness of their teenage years. Not.
Mid-drool, I realised I had a camera in my handbag. Oh, fortuitous circumstance!
So I walked up to SRK, got duly introduced by the Filmfare colleague who had a positively triumphant look on his face now, and putting my hands in poem position (as one about to recite Gunga Din), I asked, “Mr Khan, can I have a photograph taken with you?”
All I can say in my defence, now that time has imposed its own perspective, is that a momentary madness had overtaken me.
In any case, `Mr Khan` graciously obliged and at a colleague’s urging, even put an arm across my shoulder. The Beauty Editor and another colleague then rushed to SRK’s other side.
The friend who I handed the camera over to asked me which button she must click. SRK’s arm across my shoulder had driven all coherent thought out of my head so I stared blankly at her. Till he stepped forward and looking at the camera, said it must be the black button.
Revelation: All one’s education is liable to desert you at crucial times.
SRK and I didn’t exchange profound thoughts, just a couple of sentences. He had a job to do and I had to return to my desk , to regain my equilibrium.
A veritable queue of women asked for a copy of the photograph. When it was developed, it came out shaky and barely discernable. Alas and alack!
But there was a prominent nose, slightly askew in the picture, his, and zillions of gleaming white teeth, belonging to the rest of us.
Myth reinforced: Into every life, some rain must fall!
Sheila Kumar • April 30, 2020