Shah Rukh Khan is a charming person wherever he goes. As the first Indian to win the Pardo alla Carriera Ascona-Locarno Tourism prize at the Locarno Film Festival, the celebrity once again brought joy to his followers. King Khan showcased his characteristic wit during his acceptance speech at the 77th edition of the esteemed film festival, even if he had difficulty pronouncing the award’s name. In a humorous manner, the megastar said, “This award here, which, for the life of me, I’ve been trying… I can’t pronounce.” He then playfully renamed the award – “the Leopard award for being the most awesome in the world, in the history of humility and kindness and goodness.” Too good, SRK, too good.
Shah Rukh Khan continued to have trouble pronouncing the name of the award even as he neared the conclusion of his speech. He laughed and said, “Can you keep a shorter name? Just like, ‘arrivederci.’”
Shahrukh Khan discussed his roles over the course of his three and a half decade career when he was on stage. He said, “I’ve been a villain, I’ve been a champ, I’ve been a superhero, I’ve been a zero, I’ve been a rejected fan, and I’ve been a very, very resilient lover.”
Speaking about the connection between creativity and emotion, Shah Rukh Khan added, “There is no creativity without love, which is a language which transcends all languages and is comprehended by everyone around the world. So creativity, love, and giving joy to me, is one and the same thing.”
Giona A. Nazzaro, the director of the Locarno Film Festival, gave an explanation for Shahrukh Khan’s selection for this prize. “The reason why we wanted to award Shah Rukh Khan is because he’s a great artist. He’s been carrying the dreams and the hopes of so many people through his wonderful work ethic, and discipline. He made all the dreams of many, many, many of us come true,” he said.
Shah Rukh Khan’s most recent film appearance was in Dunki. It was his first time working with director Rajkumar Hirani on a film. The film, which debuted in December of last year, also had Taapsee Pannu, Boman Irani, and Vicky Kaushal in important parts.
