Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan has praised Shah Rukh Khan for his indomitable spirit and his ability to lift the confidence of those around him, sharing personal insights from their years of collaboration. The remarks came during a candid exchange on Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 18, where actor Rajkummar Rao appeared as a guest and opened up about how Shah Rukh's rise from a middle-class Delhi background shaped his own ambitions.

Rajkummar Rao's Emotional Tribute to SRK

Rajkummar Rao, who like Shah Rukh Khan hails from Delhi, told Bachchan that he had decided to pursue acting at a very young age, drawing inspiration from both men. He revealed that his mother always kept a poster of Amitabh Bachchan in her room. 'Sir, jaise ki woh khud Delhi se hain aur maine bhi kaafi kam umar mein soch liya tha ki mujhe acting karni hain. Aur ek aur baat Sir, mere mummy ke kamre mein humesha aapki ek poster hoti thi kyuki aap heen sabse number one rahe hain aur aap se hum sab inspire hue hain,' Rajkummar said — meaning, in essence, that Shah Rukh's Delhi roots resonated with him, and that Bachchan had long been the family's benchmark of stardom.

Rajkummar elaborated on what specifically about Shah Rukh Khan's journey moved him: 'Shah Rukh Sir ke journey se kaafi inspire hua main, ki kaise ek ladka Delhi se nikla, ek middle class family se, phir theatre kiya aur TV mein itne saare shows kiye aur fir bahut bada superstar ban gaya.' (I was greatly inspired by Shah Rukh Sir's journey — how a boy from Delhi, from a middle-class family, went on to do theatre, then worked in several television shows, and eventually became a very big superstar.)

Standing Outside Mannat: A Struggler's Story

Rajkummar then recalled his earliest days in Mumbai, offering a rare, unfiltered glimpse into what life looked like before the fame. He had initially arrived in the city for a television show but was not selected. Rather than leaving, he stayed on and held on to his dream. 'Toh jab main pehli baar Mumbai aaya tha, ek show ke liye aaya tha par wahan selection nahi hua, lekin main hamesha aapke bungalow ke saamne aur Mannat ke saamne khada rehta tha,' he said. (So when I first came to Mumbai, I had come for a show, but I wasn't selected. However, I would always stand outside your bungalow and in front of Mannat.)

The admission resonated with the studio audience and has since drawn wide attention as a reminder of the anonymous years most successful actors endure before their breakthrough.

Amitabh Bachchan on Working with Shah Rukh Khan

Prompted by Rajkummar's admiration, Amitabh Bachchan reflected on what it is actually like to work alongside Shah Rukh Khan. He highlighted not just Khan's personal resilience but his rare quality of raising the confidence of co-workers in difficult moments. 'Sir, main batata hoon maine unke saath kaam kiya hai aur woh aise insaan hain ki woh kisi bhi baat par haar nahi maante, koi bhi samasya ho woh sirf bolte hain aur saamne wale ka confidence kitna badhaate hain,' Bachchan said. (Sir, let me tell you, I have worked with him and he is the kind of person who never gives up on anything. Whatever the problem may be, he simply speaks up and boosts the confidence of the person in front of him.)

Why the Episode Is Getting Attention

The conversation on KBC Season 18 is drawing attention beyond typical celebrity chat-show coverage because it features three of Hindi cinema's most recognised names in a single, unscripted exchange. It also surfaces a recurring narrative in Bollywood — of outsiders from Delhi navigating a Mumbai industry built on connections — and frames Shah Rukh Khan's arc as a template that continues to inspire a new generation of actors. The episode is expected to air in the coming days on Sony Entertainment Television.