Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan shared powerful insights on ambition, identity, and acceptance at the WAVES 2023 summit, rejecting the industry’s insider-outsider narrative and instead emphasizing resilience and self-belief.
At a session titled “The Journey: From Outsider to Ruler” — moderated by longtime collaborator and filmmaker Karan Johar — SRK reflected on his rise to stardom despite having no film lineage.
“I want to clarify something: terms like hunger, ambition, and hard work often get romanticised… but these are lofty words,” Khan said. “It’s not important where you come from. What truly matters is how you hold your ground in the world you aspire to enter.”
Known for defying industry norms, the ‘Jawan’ actor reiterated that the film industry embraced him wholeheartedly:
“When I came to the film industry, I believed this is my world — and the industry embraced me with open arms.”
In a heartfelt moment, SRK also praised actress Deepika Padukone, saying her finest role may be a personal one:
“I think the role she’s going to play the best, Inshallah, is that of a mother to Dua. I think she’s really going to be a wonderful mother.”
The WAVES 2023 summit, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gathered Indian cinema legends including Rajinikanth, Mohanlal, Aamir Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Hema Malini, Saif Ali Khan, and Shahid Kapoor.
Looking ahead, WAVES 2025 is set to be a landmark event, featuring:
- Participants from 90+ countries
- 10,000+ delegates, 1,000 creators, 300+ companies, and 350+ startups
- 42 plenary sessions, 39 breakout sessions, and 32 masterclasses
India will also host the Global Media Dialogue (GMD) for the first time, with ministerial participation from 25 nations—underscoring the country’s growing influence in global media and entertainment.
The WAVES Bazaar will serve as a dynamic global e-marketplace with 6,100+ buyers, 5,200+ sellers, and 2,100+ projects, enhancing cross-border collaboration.