'I signed films for the fear of poverty': The making of SRK's Rs 7,300-crore empire
Produced by: BT Desk
SRK’s blockbuster debut on Rich List
Shah Rukh Khan has made a grand entry into the 2024 Hurun India Rich List with a net worth of ₹7,300 crore.
From poverty to riches
"I’ve seen the worst," Khan told a newspaper, sharing how his family couldn’t afford his father’s medication during his childhood.
Surviving on watery dal
"I come from a place where there was less to eat... Mom and dad would collect change to pay my school fees," SRK revealed.
Fearing poverty, not money
"Because I have seen so much poverty, I don’t yearn for money. I can spend all of it in one go," Khan admits candidly.
The constant fear of failure
"Poverty instills fear, stress, and sometimes depression. I equated poverty to failure," Khan explains his drive for success.
Losing his first car
His second car, a black Gypsy, was repossessed by the bank, leaving SRK heartbroken during his early acting days.
Signing films out of fear
"I signed films for the fear of poverty more than creative desire," says SRK, revealing how fear drove his early career choices.
The Gypsy returns
Years later, SRK was reunited with his repossessed car while shooting for ‘Trimurti’—a surreal moment in his journey.
No romance in poverty
"Don’t romanticize poverty. I used to be poor, and there’s nothing romantic about it," SRK advises the younger generation.
Comeback king of 2023
After being written off, SRK roared back with three massive hits in 2023, reclaiming his throne as a top-paid actor in India.