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At the prestigious WAVES 2025 Summit, Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan offered a refreshing take on the ongoing insider vs outsider conversation in the film industry.
Speaking during a session titled “The Journey: From Outsider to Ruler” alongside Deepika Padukone and moderated by Karan Johar, SRK challenged the relevance of such labels.
Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan was reckless and overconfident during his younger days! SRK admits at WAVES
Breaking the Myth of Background
Known for building a legendary career without any film connections, Shah Rukh Khan addressed the industry's most polarizing debate head-on. “I have a problem with the distinction between insider and outsider. I think it’s just not important,” he said. “What truly matters is how you hold your ground in the world you aspire to enter.”
Mindset over Origin
Shah Rukh emphasized that success doesn't stem from where one comes from, but from how one sees themselves. “When I came here, I never told myself I don’t belong,” he said, recalling how the industry welcomed him warmly. “I lost a family in 24 hours and gained a new one just as quickly.”
He also critiqued the overuse of terms like "hunger" and "ambition," calling them “lofty words” that often romanticize struggle. Instead, he advocated for self-belief and consistent effort.
“The world doesn’t care about your background until you show why you matter,” Khan concluded. “Forget insider-outsider. Create your own space.”
The actor said that the film industry ‘embraced me with open arms’ leading him to believe ‘this is my world and the industry’.
Also Read: 'Meri Heartbeat Tez Hai': Kartik Aaryan nervously welcomes PM Modi at WAVES 2025
About the Event
The WAVES 2025 Summit, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, brought together film stars including Rajinikanth, Mohanlal, , Chiranjeevi, Aamir Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Allu Arjun, Anil Kapoor, Hema Malini, Saif Ali Khan, and Shahid Kapoor. The event continues in Mumbai and will conclude on May 4.
