Suhana Khan, who made her acting debut with Zoya Akhtar’s The Archies (2023), has revealed that her journey into acting began not with confidence, but with rejection and heartbreak. In a recent interview with Harper’s Bazaar India, Suhana spoke candidly about failing her very first audition and how that moment unexpectedly ignited her passion for the craft.
Despite being born into one of Bollywood’s most famous families, Suhana said she was not always keen on becoming an actor and even felt nudged toward it at times. Her outlook changed during her years at Ardingly College in the UK, where she auditioned for a school play. She desperately wanted a particular role, but when the cast list was announced, she was placed in the chorus instead.
The rejection affected her deeply. “I was so upset and disappointed,” Suhana recalled, adding that she cried alone in her room, surprised by how strongly she reacted. That emotional moment, she said, made her realise how badly she wanted to perform and experience the thrill of being on stage. “That’s when I knew I really wanted to play those parts,” she shared.
What began as disappointment soon turned into clarity. Suhana explained that acting stopped feeling like a family legacy and became a personal calling. Today, she says her work is driven by “curiosity, purpose, and most of all, passion.”
Determined to sharpen her skills, Suhana later pursued formal training at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She is now preparing for her theatrical debut in the upcoming action-thriller King, where she will share screen space with her father Shah Rukh Khan and reportedly play a protégé to his character.
For Suhana, the process matters more than the outcome. She believes the experience of learning, failing, and growing is what brings her the most satisfaction. With King on the horizon, she seems ready to let her journey unfold at its own pace.