I was watching SRK’s interview on CNN-IBN. I like most of the programs on CNN-IBN (not to be confused with IBN-7) and liked this SRK interview in particular. If not for anything else, I like the way Shah Rukh Khan tackles the questions and answers the media. He is humorous, witty, and diplomatic at the same time. It is very rare that I have seen him trapped in questions. His choice of words is apt and his speeches at various programs, award functions, and interviews have always enticed me. I am in no way talking about his acting, his personality, his glamorous presence, or even his ‘King Khan’ image. Let me just give you a small excerpt from an interview that I mentioned above. Rajeev Masand (a film analyst and critic on CNN-IBN) was interviewing Shah Rukh Khan and I liked SRK’s reply to one of the question. It goes something like this.
Rajeev Masand: Do you think that money can buy happiness?
Shah Rukh Khan: It makes it easier to get happiness. I do believe in a material world to a certain extent. I think material happiness is quite an important step before you look for spiritual happiness. There are people who think the other way round. They might also be right. But in the kind of education and the world where I have grown up, and we all are growing up, a certain level of consumerism become a reality.
I am not saying that it’s a dog-eat-dog or a really dangerous world out there. But the way you cannot deny something like ‘North Korea has tested a nuclear weapon,’ you also cannot belie the fact that materialism is the order of the day.
You can’t close your eyes or hide your face like an ostrich. In this world you need to have certain amount of comfort. What was luxury once has today become basic necessity.
There was a time when a car was considered a luxury; a second television was a big no-no. But today you need to have two sets of televisions. I think it is okay to have a certain amount of material comfort. Beyond that, emotional happiness will only come if you re honest, clear and in love with your near and dear ones.
I always had similar views regarding material world and happiness but I could have never expressed my views in such a precise manner. I liked this answer in particular, as it gave me apt words to convey my thoughts.
Rajeev Masand: Do you think that money can buy happiness?
Shah Rukh Khan: It makes it easier to get happiness. I do believe in a material world to a certain extent. I think material happiness is quite an important step before you look for spiritual happiness. There are people who think the other way round. They might also be right. But in the kind of education and the world where I have grown up, and we all are growing up, a certain level of consumerism become a reality.
I am not saying that it’s a dog-eat-dog or a really dangerous world out there. But the way you cannot deny something like ‘North Korea has tested a nuclear weapon,’ you also cannot belie the fact that materialism is the order of the day.
You can’t close your eyes or hide your face like an ostrich. In this world you need to have certain amount of comfort. What was luxury once has today become basic necessity.
There was a time when a car was considered a luxury; a second television was a big no-no. But today you need to have two sets of televisions. I think it is okay to have a certain amount of material comfort. Beyond that, emotional happiness will only come if you re honest, clear and in love with your near and dear ones.
I always had similar views regarding material world and happiness but I could have never expressed my views in such a precise manner. I liked this answer in particular, as it gave me apt words to convey my thoughts.
Source: CNN-IBN (Read complete interview)
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