When Shah Rukh Khan Got Inspiration From Ratan Tata's Business Acumen: 'My Parents Were Losing...'

Ratan Tata’s passing was a significant loss for the nation. The esteemed industrialist passed away at 86 on Wednesday at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai.

Shah Rukh Khan once called Ratan Tata his inspiration.

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Ratan Tata’s passing was a significant loss for the nation. The esteemed industrialist passed away at 86 on Wednesday at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. Many celebrities took to social media to express their grief, remembering Tata for his kindness. Among his admirers was Shah Rukh Khan, who had long expressed his respect for the business icon. In a 2013 interview with Forbes India, the Bollywood superstar reflected on the influence of figures like Tata.

What Shah Rukh Khan said about Ratan Tata

Shah Rukh Khan said, “Whenever I get a chance, I go and spend time with RK Krishnakumar of Tata Sons. I like how these people talk. How they think. Just look at what they’ve built. I go and sit down with Mr Kamath [KV Kamath] and talk of ICICI. I see good, simple, normal people. But the vision is so outstanding and the business acumen is brilliant. They think it out. I get very inspired by that.”

He continued, “They [Ambanis, Birlas, Tatas] understand that I have an interest in business that is beyond profits. When I met them, they were also at a stage in life when they were looking at business like that. My father was a businessman; my mother was a business lady, and they were losing at their businesses. But I remember the gusto with which they did it. The reason was not to buy a big house. And I realized that if the essence of earning money is right, business is great.”

Shah Rukh Khan on being inspired by Ratan Tata

Discussing what it takes to run a successful business, Shah Rukh shared, “You’ve got to have passion. You got to be like Walt Disney as a businessman. I think Azim Premji is like that. Ratan Tata is like that. They are fantastic people. I am too small to comment on their business acumen. But I know the reason why they are doing business. I know that Nano was brought out with a very good thought. Will it work, will it not work, I don’t know. But the reason it was created for, was very clear. The reason you are creating business is not business, but passion and it is personal.”

Shah Rukh also spoke about how he applies these insights to his own ventures. “Every business I have started is because I wanted to take things to what I am not getting at this point in time,” he explained. “I have taken high-end risks and succeeded in them. Like everyone told me my career was over when 'Baazigar' released. My best well-wishers told me my career is over, you can’t be a hero again after you’ve killed a woman. But it paid off. In the long run, everything is sustainable if you stick to it.”