Who better than Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone to weigh in on Bollywood’s favourite existential debate—outsider vs. insider—while being moderated by none other than Karan Johar, the long-labelled “flag bearer of nepotism”?
The irony displayed at the WAVES Summit in Mumbai was delicious, and it certainly wasn’t lost on anyone watching it virutally.
But irony aside, what followed was a masterclass in charm, candour, and controlled narrative. Shah Rukh Khan, ever the statesman of stardom, dismissed the industry’s obsession with labels:
“I also have a problem with this insider and outsider. I do not think it is important where you come from… What is important is how you are making a place for yourself.”
It was classic SRK—philosophical, unbothered, and delivered with the ease of someone who’s turned hustle into heritage.
He warned that obsessing over these constructs could be self-defeating:
“What happens is most people start thinking ‘Oh, I am from the outside world, only privileged will get a role, I do not have a distinguished background, I will not get it.’ So if you start following these petty things, you will never give your full force of energy to make a space for yourself.”
Deepika Padukone, who once walked into Bollywood from Bangalore via a modelling career and Farah Khan’s sharp eye, brought her signature clarity to the stage.
“I never felt like I was an outsider trying to make my place. I had the dedication, passion, determination, the hard work—those were the things in my control.”
She wasn’t downplaying the barriers—just choosing not to be defined by them.
Today when I look back at the journey… For an 18-year-old to move to a big city, it was a big decision to make. Those little things, having to navigate life with trial and error. Overall, when I look back, I say not bad, well done.”
Karan Johar, ever the showman, didn’t shy away from injecting humour into the mix. He recalled once pitching a film to Shah Rukh that involved the actor wearing a skirt for the entire runtime. SRK’s deadpan response?
“Tu khud skirt pehenkar khud acting karna (You can wear a skirt and act too)!
The session wasn’t just about journeys and industry politics—it was also filled with mutual admiration. Deepika praised Shah Rukh’s inherent grace and respect:
It’s not just respect for women when the camera is rolling; it’s in every pore of his body… He ensures that she is comfortable and well taken care of.”
And in perhaps the most touching moment of the panel, Shah Rukh addressed Deepika’s next chapter with quiet affection:
“I think the role she’s going to play the best—Inshallah—is that of a mother now, with Dua. I think she is really, really going to be a wonderful mom.”
So yes, it was curated. It was camera-ready. But when two of Bollywood’s most beloved stars reflect on legacy, identity, and longevity—with Karan Johar managing the mic—it’s still worth watching, analysing, and quoting at length. Especially when the so-called flag bearer moderates a session about breaking in. Because if there’s one thing Bollywood does better than fiction, it’s irony with flawless lighting.