Introduction: On losing parents

Iconic Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan recently shared heartfelt thoughts on his life and career.
Having spent over thirty years in the film industry,
Shahrukh opened up about the deep impact of losing his
parents at a young age and how it shaped his determination to succeed.

In a conversation at the Global Freight Summit in Dubai,
Shah Rukh revealed that he lost his father when he was just 14 years old and his mother at 24.
“My parents died when I was young. I had nowhere to go.
I had a sister with me. Just the two of us left in this world,” he said.
This early loss left a significant mark on him,
leading him to ponder about his parents’
feelings regarding his life choices and struggles.

SRK expressed a poignant thought:
“I felt one morning that maybe my parents are there somewhere…
and I will meet up with them again for sure.
They are stars in the sky and I will meet them once.”
Despite this comforting belief, he wondered if they were concerned about him, thinking,
“Oh my God, what must be happening to my 24-year-old kid who has no sustenance?”
This reflection fueled his drive to work hard and achieve success.

Shah Rukh’s determination stemmed from a desire not to let his parents down.
He explained, “I started working very hard,
I became very determined to be successful because
I didn’t want my parents to feel bad that they have not fended for me.”
He described this mindset as a strange but motivating perspective:
“I will become successful and turn around and say, ‘I am doing good!
Don’t feel guilty you died early.’”
This sense of accountability towards his late parents
pushed him to strive for greatness in his career.

He also reflected on how these experiences shaped his current role as a father.
“Now I am determined for my children… in a good way.
May their life be healthy, may they be happy. All three of them are very beautiful,
very sweet and hardworking. He said.