New Delhi: After what seemed like an eternity away from the big screen, the Indian superstar Shah Rukh Khan returned in 2023 with a bang, releasing not one, not two, but three films from a wide range of directors. Upon receiving the Indian Of The Year honour at an awards ceremony, Shah Rukh Khan spared a few moments to deliver one of the most heartfelt acceptance speeches in recent memory.
At News 18’s event, SRK recently talked about his love for his country while accepting his award as ‘Indian of the Year’.
The actor passionately said in his inspirational speech that he is not only the Indian of the Year for 2023, but that he has been, and always will be, the Indian of the Year. Shah Rukh Khan said, "I'd like to say something brash.”
He continued, “I should have kept my speech written because it is checked three to four times so that I don’t say something stupid and wrong, and I get picked on for it. But I still would like to say this, which is very, very brash. I don’t just feel like the Indian of the Year; I feel I’ve been the Indian of all the years gone by and I will be the Indian for all the years to come. I am actually, ladies and gentlemen, the Indian for all ages."
He discussed the last five years, during which the majority of his films were box-office duds. Even the period of Aaryan Khan's drug case was brought up, which he described as an uncomfortable moment. According to him, the people who came to see his movie did so to show their support for him and his family.
He said, “I’d like to thank everyone here and people who are watching this on television—hordes of you who came this year to watch my films. Some of you may not have liked them, but I know deep down inside, you came there to support me and my family. So, I bow down to you and thank you for bringing cheer to my family, my children, and my loved ones, and I thank you for making me the star I am yet again."
On the work front, Shah Rukh Khan's most recent film ‘Dunki’ is now in theatres.