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Dilip Kumar and Shah Rukh Khan shared a bond that went far beyond the ordinary relationship between two actors. When Shah Rukh took on Devdas for Sanjay Leela Bhansali — a role immortalised by Dilip Kumar in 1955 — he personally visited the legend to seek advice, hoping to bring the same emotional depth to the character. Over the years, Saira Banu fondly referred to Shah Rukh as their “child,” and SRK often visited Dilip Kumar until his final days. But few know that there was once a moment when Dilip Kumar “slapped” Shah Rukh Khan.
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During the Zee Cine Awards 2001, while hosting the event, Shah Rukh recalled the memory with humour and reverence.
He said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I am blessed because when I came to Bombay and met Dilip Sahab for the first time, he lightly tapped me on my cheek and said, ‘Work hard!’ Let me tell you, when a man from Peshawar gives even a light tap, it feels like a huge slap.”
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He went on to add with a smile, “But I don’t mind, because that one small slap pushed my acting career forward for a decade. Now, I believe if I want my career to move ahead again, I will request Dilip Sahab for another tight slap — maybe it will keep me relevant for another two decades.”
Later that evening, Shah Rukh had the honour of welcoming Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu on stage. “I have been given the honour to lay out the red carpet for Mr Dilip Kumar — the actor who, I believe, laid the foundation of Indian cinema, and whose one tap can send you ten years ahead in your career,” SRK said.
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And true to his words, destiny followed suit. Just a year later, Shah Rukh Khan starred in Devdas — the same role that once defined Dilip Kumar’s career — and the film became a cultural phenomenon. It elevated SRK to even greater stardom, solidifying his position as one of the most celebrated and enduring stars of Indian cinema.
Today, Shah Rukh Khan stands as the richest Indian actor, with an estimated net worth of Rs 14,000 crore — a testament to a journey that, perhaps, began with that one fateful “slap” of blessings from the legend himself.
On Instagram, Saira had once penned a post about Shah Rukh, “The first time I saw Shah Rukh was when many stars had met for a function…I immediately remarked that he seemed shy and reticent to come forward….and I noticed that he looked so much like my Shahenshah Dilip Sahib…I said if my son had been there he would have been just like him.”
