Not Karan Johar or Yash Chopra, Meet the man who gave Shah Rukh Khan a home and helped shape his rise to stardom, his name is...
Film producer and actor Viveck Vaswani shared a nostalgic photo on X, writing, 'Congratulations to Shah Rukh Khan for the National Award! Long overdue but well-deserved!' Shah Rukh's reply was as personal as it was telling, 'Thanks for the wishes. It all started with you… Raju finally became a gentleman.' That one sentence summed up a friendship that began in the early '90s and quietly shaped Bollywood history.
Thank u for the wishes. All started with you. Raju finally ban gaya gentleman. https://t.co/Z5cuebpkPa
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 3, 2025
The bond between SRK and Viveck was cemented during Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman (1992), a romantic drama directed by Aziz Mirza. Shah Rukh played Raju Mathur, an ambitious engineer in Mumbai, while Viveck not only co-produced the film but also played Lovelal Kukkreja. The movie, starring Juhi Chawla, Nana Patekar, and Amrita Singh, was the turning point in SRK's career. The man who opened his doors
When a young SRK moved from Delhi to Mumbai, it was Viveck Vaswani who welcomed him into his home and guided him into the industry. They went on to work together in films like English Babu Desi Mem, Kabhie Haan Kabhie Naa, and King Uncle.
Though life has taken them on different paths, Shah Rukh now runs a film empire while Viveck is a school dean, the warmth hasn't faded. As Viveck once said, 'We don't talk often, but when we do, nothing feels changed.' SRK's gratitude after the win
Following his National Award, Shah Rukh posted on social media, thanking the jury, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and his fans, 'I am overwhelmed by the love. Thank you for this honour.'
Released in 2024, Jawan saw SRK in a dual role, mixing action, drama, and a social message on corruption. The film featured Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, Deepika Padukone, and Sanya Malhotra. His next big project, King, will see him share the screen with daughter Suhana, Deepika Padukone, and Abhishek Bachchan.
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