Inspiration
Shah Rukh Khan: Hard work, persistence and perseverance take you from “Ordinary to Extraordinary”
Bollywood’s most successful actor Shah Rukh Khan popularly known as SRK by his fans transformed from a newcomer to a name that resonates across the world. He has overcome the hurdles in life and has achieved what others could only dream of.
Bollywood’s most successful actor Shah Rukh Khan popularly known as SRK by his fans transformed from a newcomer to a name that resonates across the world. He has overcome the hurdles in life and has achieved what others could only dream of.
We all know who Shah Rukh Khan is. So much has been written and spoken about him that we are left in awe at the magnitude of the things he’s done. We say 24 hours is a long time but looking at what this man has achieved over the years with hard work and dedication leads us to believe that maybe just maybe he was given the gift of time, like a power where he could extend a day to have more than 24 hours.
But before basking in all that glitz and glamour he was a regular boy with big dreams. A boy born to be an entertainer due to his wit and humour. He grew up in a middle-class family beginning his formal education at the St. Columba’s High School which was known for its high standards of education and discipline. But he was no angel and played his share of mischief. One time to bunk class he pretended to have an epileptic attack and was so good with his acting that the teacher asked his friends to take him away so he could rest and recover. To make it more believable he sent a friend back to get the leather shoe of his teacher as it was believed to be an Indian remedy that smelling leather would help an epileptic person. The poor teacher had to walk with one shoe the whole day.
He says that he feels pleasantly surprised with his success as he knew he was good at what he did but didn’t know he was so good.
All the mischief apart, he was exceptional in academics, drama and was on the football, hockey and cricket team of the school. He won the Raman Subramaniam Award in his 10th standard for character and all round performance. He repeated this feat once again and was awarded the Sword of Honour the most prestigious award of the school in his 12th class. Nobody said, to excel in anything you had to be an angel. Shah Rukh proved that point.
He enrolled at Hansraj College to earn a bachelor’s degree in Economics, but spent most of his time at the Delhi’s Theatre Action Group and was mentored by director Barry John. After gaining his bachelor’s degree he went on to study for his master’s degree in Mass Communications at the Jamia Millia Islamia University, but discontinued it to pursue his passion for acting. He went on to the National School of Drama where he stayed for quite some time before he joined the world of acting.
Nothing came easy to him. He, like the rest of us have faced equal if not more hardships in his growing up years. We read about his mansion, cars, holidays and his lifestyle. All that wasn’t handed to him on a platter but came with a price. The price being nothing but persistence and hard work. After all these years, he says that he feels pleasantly surprised with his success as he knew he was good at what he did but didn’t know he was so good.
A man whose success story is legendary and will be remembered for his untiring work, passion and dedication in all that he does. An example for many of us to take away as a learning that hard work always pays and to believe that you can break stereotypes and achieve more than what you’ve hoped for.
Images courtesy – Youtube, Wikipedia, Bollwood Reporter and Edinburgh University