Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan wants his children — Aryan, 18, Suhana, 15 — to complete their education before they consider a career in show business.
“I am a big believer in education, so they have to finish studying first. My son will graduate. He has finished his 12th [grade] and he will have four years of college. My daughter is in school... she has two years of school and four years of college. The minimum requirement is to graduate,” Khan said in an interview.
“If you have an undying passion for films then get into it, not because you are good looking or Shah Rukh Khan’s kids or because I am an actor so they also have to be one. These are wrong reasons [to enter films],” the Dilwale star added.
Khan’s friend and frequent collaborator, filmmaker, Karan Johar has often said that he would launch Aryan in Bollywood.
Khan, however, said if his children choose to pursue acting then they should do it the old-fashioned way.
“If they want to act, I would be very proud as it’s my line of work and we will have something to chat about. When I came here, I got into theatre, did television and then I got into films. I have strangely studied for 10 years before becoming a film star,” the 50-year-old actor said.
“They will also have to do the same thing; develop a passion, get educated and come back and do something that will take Indian cinema forward. Don’t come back or rely on it to take you forward. Indian cinema has helped your dad become a star, now it’s the duty of his family to take it forward,” Khan added.
The father of three (Khan also has two-year-old son AbRam) said he would be happy no matter what his children choose to do.
“People should say they are doing something new, something that Shah Rukh Khan did not know. At this point, my daughter is interested a lot [in films], my son is okay. If they develop a passion for films, I will be happy and even if they don’t I will still be happy,” he said.
