Before he became the “King of Bollywood”, Shah Rukh Khan was just a young man from Delhi with dreams far bigger than his means. His charisma, hard work and resilience turned him into one of the most loved and respected actors of India. Beyond the fame, his story has always been about gratitude, friendship and the people who stood by him when he had nothing.
One of those people was actor, writer and producer Viveck Vaswani, who gave the struggling newcomer a place to stay when he first arrived in Mumbai. Over the years, Shah Rukh Khan has never failed to credit Viveck Vaswani for his early support, a bond that has remained strong for decades.
As Shah Rukh Khan celebrated his 60th birthday, Viveck Vaswani reflected not only on their friendship but also on Aryan Khan’s debut docu-series “The Ba***ds Of Bollywood”. Watching the series, Viveck Vaswani felt deeply unsettled by how it portrayed the film industry. He recalled that when Shah Rukh Khan began his career, he was met with warmth and generosity from everyone around him. Viveck Vaswani fondly remembered how directors like Aziz Mirza, Saeed Mirza and their families welcomed the young actor with open arms, treating him like one of their own. “He was cared like family,” Viveck Vaswani said, questioning how Aryan could see the same industry as a gutter or dark and toxic place.
In the words of Viveck Vaswani, “When Shah Rukh entered the industry, he was showered with love — from Aziz Mirza, Nirmala, my mother, Saeed Mirza, and myself. He was treated with kid gloves. So how did Aryan come to the conclusion that Bollywood is a gutter filled with bad people?”
Viveck Vaswani pointed out that Shah Rukh Khan’s early days were not marked by destitution or loneliness. He stayed in comfortable homes, first at Cuffe Parade and later in Bandra after his marriage, surrounded by supportive friends and mentors. For Viveck Vaswani, it felt unfair that a show emerging from the same family would paint Bollywood as devoid of kindness or integrity. He asked why not even one character was shown in the series who represented goodness of the industry.
The veteran producer admitted that the series made him think deeply about his own experiences. He remembered how the industry embraced a non-nepo kid like Shah Rukh Khan, who earned love and respect through hard work and humility. Viveck Vaswani said, his voice filled with emotion, that Bollywood is his karma-bhoomi and SRK’s as well. While he acknowledged that not everyone, including Shah Rukh, might agree with his views, he maintained his truth. He further said that though he felt sad while watching the series but the cameos were really good, he further praised Emraan Hashmi and Bobby Deol for their performances.
As the conversation turns from nostalgia to the future, Shah Rukh Khan is once again in the spotlight with his next big film entitled “King” directed by Siddharth Anand. The movie’s first look, unveiled on his milestone birthday, has already sent waves of excitement through Bollywood and among fans, and it’s a proof that even after three decades, the king’s magic has not faded.
