Shah Rukh Khan turns 60: When an emotional SRK said 'Mujhe dost banane nahi aate...', opened up about loneliness, watch

Bollywood’s beloved superstar, Shah Rukh Khan, celebrates his 60th birthday on November 2, 2025. From heartfelt tributes by his friends and co-stars like Kajol, Karan Johar, and Anupam Kher to fans crowding the streets outside Mannat, the grand celebration of love and admiration for the ‘King Khan’ has just begun.

Yet, behind all the glitz and global adoration, there exists a side of SRK few get to see - one marked by solitude and vulnerability.

Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan aka Pathaan and Salman Khan aka Tiger in Alia Bhatt and Sharvari’s Alpha?

A Rare Glimpse Behind the Charisma

Though his fame transcends boundaries, Shah Rukh once spoke openly about how loneliness often shadows his stardom. In a resurfaced 1997 episode of Rendezvous with Simi Garewal, the actor shared a deeply personal confession.

“I get very lonely with myself,” he admitted, adding, “I'm not romanticising loneliness, but I get very lonely at times.”

Reflecting on the paradox of his life in the spotlight, he wondered aloud, “I read somewhere- I have so much fame, so much money, I have so many people loving me-and why is it that I feel alone?”

The Weight of Stardom

In the interview, SRK - then one of Bollywood’s fastest-rising stars after Deewana (1992) - revealed that his loneliness wasn’t about lacking love from those around him. Instead, it was an emotional state he couldn’t quite escape, despite having a fulfilling family life and millions of admirers.

Contemplating life’s fleeting nature, he remarked, “They say the most difficult thing about life is to get out of it alive. I just keep searching for this want for living.”

Finding Comfort in Small Companionship

The King Of Romance also opened up about his need for company, revealing a tender side of his personality. “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,” he shared with a smile.

‘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

Shah Rukh Khan
Date: 1995 + 1997
Credit: Pan Nalin + Simi Garewal#SRK#ShahRukhKhanpic.twitter.com/9BA2UCsxqL

— Maleika E. A. - srk1000faces 🇩🇪 (@srk1000faces) February 11, 2023

The superstar, who married Gauri Khan in 1991 and is now father to Aryan, Suhana, and AbRam, later acknowledged that he struggled with attachment issues - a vulnerability that stemmed from deep emotional experiences.

Fear of Losing People

Years later, on Koffee With Karan, SRK nearly broke down while discussing the fear that has shaped his relationships. He revealed, “I'm scared of attachments because I believe every attachment that I have will finally break my heart or leave me. And, the only time I cry is when I lose the people that I love, through life and death or just because they are not attached to me anymore.”

He went on to add, “I got scared of losing people because of my parents' deaths and I hate losing people. I hate losing friends.”

The Confession That Touched Millions

With his trademark honesty, Khan made a heartfelt confession: “I don't have any friends and I don't know how to make friends.”

And then, he said the words that have since echoed through time, “Mujhe dost banane nahi aate, agar aate hai toh rakhne nahi aate, aur agar rakhne aate hai toh woh rehna nahi chahte.”

" 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

— s. (@pookiesattu) July 23, 2022

Even decades later, as SRK continues to reign as cinema’s eternal romantic hero, these words remind fans that beneath the superstar lies a deeply human heart - one that still seeks connection amidst all the applause.

Must Read: Shah Rukh Khan is the 'Real Villain' in DDLJ, says Parmeet Sethi, 'Raj took away Kuljit’s fiancé!'

Timeless Reflections

As fans celebrate his milestone 60th birthday, the resurfaced clips from his old interviews have once again gone viral - reminding the world that even the most adored figures sometimes carry unseen loneliness behind their smiles.