'It All Started With You': Shah Rukh Khan Thanks Longtime Friend After National Award Win

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

As Shah Rukh Khan celebrates a landmark moment in his illustrious career - winning Best Actor at the 71st National Film Awards for Jawan - fans and well-wishers have flooded social media with love and congratulations. But one message, in particular, has stood out for its nostalgic value: a tweet from his old friend Viveck Vaswani.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Viveck shared an old photo of Shah Rukh flashing his signature smile.“Congratulations @iamsrk on the National Award! Very late but very, very deserving!” he wrote. The King of Bollywood replied with warmth and gratitude:“Thank u for the wishes. All started with you. Raju finally ban gaya gentleman.”

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Shah Rukh's 1992 breakout film Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, co-produced by Vaswani, was a career-defining moment for the then-rising star. While Shah Rukh played Raj“Raju” Mathur, Vaswani appeared as Lovechand Kukreja. The film, directed by Aziz Mirza, also featured Juhi Chawla, Nana Patekar, and Amrita Singh, and helped cement SRK's place in Bollywood.

Their friendship dates back even further. When Shah Rukh first moved to Mumbai in the early '90s, it was Viveck who welcomed him into his home and helped him navigate the film industry. The two went on to collaborate on multiple projects, including English Babu Desi Mem, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, and King Uncle. Over the years, however, their contact became limited.

In an interview last year with Siddharth Kannan, Viveck candidly shared,“We don't talk. We don't meet. But when we do, it's as if the years were not there.” Now the dean of a film school, Viveck acknowledged Shah Rukh's larger-than-life status while remaining content with his own grounded lifestyle.“I travel by bus, local train, and Shah Rukh is a superstar.”

Still, the mutual respect and emotional bond clearly remain. On Viveck's birthday last year, SRK had replied to his wish with another heartfelt note:“Thanks my friend...and convincer of making me join the industry. Love u and a big hug.”

Shah Rukh is currently gearing up for his next project, King, directed by Siddharth Anand. It is rumored to star Suhana Khan, Deepika Padukone, and Abhishek Bachchan.

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