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When Shah Rukh Khan mocked the idea of entourage around stars: ‘Seven people walking behind, tying shoelaces, holding umbrella, why?’

Shah Rukh Khan said that he did not want to lose himself in the frills of the film industry and wanted to stay in touch with reality.

Shah Rukh Khan questioned the idea of an entourage even before he entered movies. (Photo: Express Archives)

Shah Rukh Khan had appeared in a few successful television shows before he was signed by a bunch of film producers in the early 1990s and it was almost like the myth of Shah Rukh Khan had started building even before the actor did his first film. Shah Rukh was signed by six producers including the likes of Rakesh Roshan and Hema Malini and had already started shooting in Mumbai when he learnt that actors in Mumbai operated in a different way. Back then, SRK found this setup “funny” and mocked the concept of an entourage around a movie star.

In a 1991 interview with Stardust, which was published even before Shah Rukh made his debut in the movies, the actor said that he was quite taken aback by the idea that there are people around him to hold his tea, tie his shoelaces and hold his umbrella. “I find the entire set up quite funny you now. I’ve been shooting in Bombay for the past one month. And suddenly there are guys wanting to hold my cup of tea, tie my shoe laces, hold my umbrella over my head. Why? I’m not a f**king retard. I tied my shoelaces before I came into films, I’ll tie them now,” he said.

Shah Rukh Khan said that he was asked to throw a tantrum if the AC in his make up room was broken so producers wouldn’t take him for granted. He also mocked the idea of an entourage and said, “I mean this thing about seven people walking behind an actor, why does he need them? But it is supposed to be done. In Hollywood, there is no concept of spot boys.”

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He further criticised the attitude of movie stars and said that they don’t take their craft seriously. “I’ve seen actors and actresses behave so funnily with people around them. They have absolutely no respect for people. It seems like these stars have just come here to earn some money, fame, glory and throw their weight around. Acting be damned. They do not understand the concept of acting. I mean there is no concept. It’s become a fad now that if I like hangers on, if I get my shoe laces tied by a spot boy, if I like posing for photographers, then I’m a star. Or I should become a star,” he said.

At this time, Shah Rukh Khan said that he did not want to lose himself in this world of glamour and wanted to keep in touch with reality. “I am just trying to say that I do not care much for the frills that come along with this profession. I do not want to go astray and lose myself to this world like the others. I want to keep in touch with reality. I want to keep in touch with myself,” he said.

Shah Rukh Khan has now been a successful movie star for over 30 years. His next film King, directed by Sujoy Ghosh, also stars Abhishek Bachchan and Suhana Khan.

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