Even the brightest stars can have the darkest shadows—especially when they’re hidden behind dazzling smiles and global adulation. Shah Rukh Khan, the beloved King of Romance and one of the world’s most celebrated actors, once revealed a heartbreaking side of his fame that fans rarely see. A 1997 interview with Simi Garewal has resurfaced online, reminding the world that loneliness doesn't spare even those who seem to have it all.
The Superstar’s Solitary Struggle
At the time of the interview, Khan was ascending rapidly to superstardom. Yet behind his quick wit and charming demeanour was a man carrying the weight of emotional isolation. “I get very lonely with myself,” he confessed during Rendezvous with Simi Garewal. “I’m not romanticising loneliness, but I get very lonely at times.” He reflected on the paradox of public life: “I read somewhere—I have so much fame, so much money, so many people loving me—and why is it that I feel alone?”
These were not the words of a man ungrateful for his blessings, but of someone searching for meaning amidst the noise of stardom.
The Cost of Losing and Loving
Khan’s vulnerability struck a deeper chord when he opened up about the profound impact of losing his parents at a young age. The trauma of those early losses shaped his emotional world, making him wary of new attachments. Speaking to Karan Johar on Koffee with Karan years later, he nearly broke down. “I’m scared of attachments because I believe every attachment that I have will finally break my heart or leave me,” he said.
It’s a fear that hasn’t faded with time. “The only time I cry is when I lose the people I love—through life and death or just because they are not attached to me anymore.”
Friends, Fame, and the Fear of Abandonment
While millions call him their favorite, SRK admits he struggles to form real friendships. His poignant Hindi confession on Karan Johar’s show is still widely quoted:
“Mujhe dost banane nahi aate, agar aate hai toh rakhne nahi aate, aur agar rakhne aate hai toh woh rehna nahi chahte.”
(“I don’t know how to make friends. And if I do, I don’t know how to keep them. And if I manage to keep them, they don’t want to stay.”)
In one tender moment, he recalled how he copes with loneliness when his wife, Gauri Khan, is away: “I pick up my dog, hold his paw and go to sleep.”
A Reminder That Stars Cry Too
Though decades have passed since these confessions, the resurfaced clips have sparked renewed admiration for Khan’s emotional honesty. In an age of curated lives and polished perfection, SRK’s candid admissions serve as a powerful reminder: even icons have invisible wounds.
From Deewana in 1992 to reigning as Bollywood royalty, Shah Rukh Khan's journey has been nothing short of legendary. But fame, as he shows us, can be a lonely throne to sit on. And sometimes, even the King of Hearts needs a hand to hold.
The Superstar’s Solitary Struggle
At the time of the interview, Khan was ascending rapidly to superstardom. Yet behind his quick wit and charming demeanour was a man carrying the weight of emotional isolation. “I get very lonely with myself,” he confessed during Rendezvous with Simi Garewal. “I’m not romanticising loneliness, but I get very lonely at times.” He reflected on the paradox of public life: “I read somewhere—I have so much fame, so much money, so many people loving me—and why is it that I feel alone?”
These were not the words of a man ungrateful for his blessings, but of someone searching for meaning amidst the noise of stardom.
‘I need someone to be with me. So, when my wife leaves town and goes, then I pick up my dog and hold his paw and go to sleep.’—@iamsrk
— Maleika E. A. - srk1000faces 🇩🇪 (@srk1000faces) February 11, 2023
Shah Rukh Khan
Date: 1995 + 1997
Credit: Pan Nalin + Simi Garewal#SRK #ShahRukhKhan pic.twitter.com/9BA2UCsxqL
The Cost of Losing and Loving
Khan’s vulnerability struck a deeper chord when he opened up about the profound impact of losing his parents at a young age. The trauma of those early losses shaped his emotional world, making him wary of new attachments. Speaking to Karan Johar on Koffee with Karan years later, he nearly broke down. “I’m scared of attachments because I believe every attachment that I have will finally break my heart or leave me,” he said.
It’s a fear that hasn’t faded with time. “The only time I cry is when I lose the people I love—through life and death or just because they are not attached to me anymore.”
" mujhe dost banane nahi aate , aagar aate hai toh rakhne nahi aate , aur agar rakhne aate hai toh woh rehna nahi chahte " this line hurts .. same shahrukh same 💔pic.twitter.com/uN7tMg3hlP
— 🎀 (@pookiesattu) July 23, 2022
Friends, Fame, and the Fear of Abandonment
While millions call him their favorite, SRK admits he struggles to form real friendships. His poignant Hindi confession on Karan Johar’s show is still widely quoted:
“Mujhe dost banane nahi aate, agar aate hai toh rakhne nahi aate, aur agar rakhne aate hai toh woh rehna nahi chahte.”
(“I don’t know how to make friends. And if I do, I don’t know how to keep them. And if I manage to keep them, they don’t want to stay.”)
In one tender moment, he recalled how he copes with loneliness when his wife, Gauri Khan, is away: “I pick up my dog, hold his paw and go to sleep.”
A Reminder That Stars Cry Too
Though decades have passed since these confessions, the resurfaced clips have sparked renewed admiration for Khan’s emotional honesty. In an age of curated lives and polished perfection, SRK’s candid admissions serve as a powerful reminder: even icons have invisible wounds.
From Deewana in 1992 to reigning as Bollywood royalty, Shah Rukh Khan's journey has been nothing short of legendary. But fame, as he shows us, can be a lonely throne to sit on. And sometimes, even the King of Hearts needs a hand to hold.
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