Often when reflecting on one’s life journey and looking back at one’s younger self, old “cringey” memories of the past consume the mind. However, that’s not the case with superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

The 59-year-old actor sat down alongside his beloved recurrent co-star Deepika Padukone and director, talk show host Karan Johar on the inaugural day of the WAVES Summit 2025 in Mumbai for a session titled, “The Journey: From Outsider to Ruler.” The veteran ‘King of Hearts’ imparted some crucial pieces of advice, delivering much-needed words of heartfelt and grounded wisdom overflowing with his trademark wit.

Shah Rukh Khan thanks his younger self for being himself

SRK not only reflected on his days as a “brash” and “overconfident” youngster, but also sent out a message to aspiring actors who often get entangled in the race to stand out among the rest, ironically, by sacrificing their real selves and manufacturing personas. As he was asked about what he would say to his younger self today, the self-aware Bollywood king recalled, “When I was young, I think I was a little brash… a little overconfident… a bit reckless, and I would like to tell my younger self, thank you for being like that.”

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He noted that even while listening to his old interviews he could see that he was “reckless” and “stupid,” adding “but I’m really happy with all of that… because otherwise I wouldn’t have chosen this path and wouldn’t be where I am right now. I was a little gutsy also… so yeah, thank you to young Shah Rukh Khan for being so cool.”

Additionally, the Chak De India star touched upon a “theory” of his, saying that when we’re young, we feel like we know everything. However, the truth is that we don’t because we are “unconflicted.” He then acknowledged that as we grow older, fear, anxiety and thoughtfulness take over. “When you are young, you experience the adventure called life… without any obstacles, any inhibitions,” he added, admitting that it all stems from not being consumed by too many thoughts, resulting in the lack of clarity.

Shah Rukh Khan’s message to aspiring actors

Sharing words of wisdom for young actors, he addressed the prolonged obsession with creating an “image” for oneself. “See, image is an image by definition,” he said, noting that it’s basically a “duplicate photo, that’s never the real you.” Pushing aspiring talents to assess themselves, he went on to say that if someone asks him to do something that’s against his nature or something that he doesn’t understand, yet he still does it, then that’s “false image-building.”

You have to exude… you have to tell people, ‘This is who I am,'” Shah Rukh Khan continued, accepting that everyone is unique. “Everybody likes to see new things. If you’re able to bring your uniqueness, people will like that. Not an image copied from XYZ. Cut-paste doesn’t work. You have to be honest to yourself. You have to be the unique, real you.”

Shah Rukh Khan on ‘never’ feeling defeated despite encountering failures in life

The Jawan hero’s powerful address also included lessons on handling failure. He confessed that he is often pained by crushing thoughts like ‘Meri film flop ho gayi (my film flopped).’ “I go through these spangs that I’ve let down lots of people around the world because I know, in 35 years” so many people come to watch my films, bearing a lot of expectations and love, for the purpose of being entertained and to seek happiness, he said.

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He added that whenever he makes a bad movie, he takes its “very personally,” as if he has “insulted the trust” his fans have in him. To cope up with that crushing defeat, he revealed that he would lock himself in the bathroom and cry behind closed doors, feeling dejected for the next few days. Despite that “method,” he said, “I’ve never felt that I’m defeated.” Khan admitted that he never lets himself think that he can’t get back up from a professional loss.

The Main Hoon Na actor acknowledged that he’s very clear on the idea that sorrow, tears and dejection are all part of life. Yet he doesn’t “allow defeat to overtake” him. “I get beaten, I maybe fall down… but I’ve never ever… I’m being honest, I’m not being pompous. I never ever feel defeated.”

The beloved Bollywood icon is all set to reunite with director Siddharth Anand for his next, titled King, after the commercial success of Pathaan. The upcoming film will mark the big-screen debut of his daughter Suhana Khan. As per recent reports, Deepika Padukone is expected to come onboard for an extended cameo. Arshad Warsi is also believed to have been in talks to join the cast alongside the likes of Abhishek Bachchan, Munjya star Abhay Verma and Jaideep Ahlawat.

Khan is also reported to be making his big Met Gala debut this May.