'Doesn't seem like 30 years, seems like yesterday': Shah Rukh Khan on his time in the film industry

It has been three decades since Shah Rukh Khan stepped into the film industry and what better way to honour his 30 years of work than reminisce about it with fans? The king of Bollywood answered some fans' questions in his very first Insta live.

Khan hosted his live session on Instagram on Saturday and revealed that though it was for the release of a new poster for his upcoming film Pathaan, it incidentally also happens to be his 30-year anniversary in the industry. He started off with an anecdote from his very first day of shooting.

"I do remember the first day that I shot, I was shooting for Hema [Malini] jee, [in] Dil Aashna Hai. For me it was 5 or 6pm on this date, 30 years ago, somewhere near Lokhandwala in a bungalow and I remember Hema jee showing me how to do the shot — she looked so wonderful and beautiful. Of course, I could never ever manage to act like Hema Malini jee but I've tried my best to come close to performers like her and I'm extremely thankful to all of you for having borne with me for the last 30 years," he said.

He also said it was his first time doing a session like this. "If I'm not mistaken, this is my first Insta live so I may make some mistakes, there might be some sounds and I might take a while to read and answer the questions that you have."

After sending his love to all those dropping down in the comment section only to type "I love you", he talked about why he decided acting was it for him.

"I have always believed when I came down to Mumbai that I'll try to do as much work as possible because the first time when I did my serial Fauji, I remember I was driving in a three-wheeler and two ladies who looked very glum just looked at me and started shouted Abhi [his character's name]. At that point in time, I realised that this is the reason that I'm going to act — so that I can make people smile."

In between looking back on his career, the My Name is Khan actor answered questions on his live, revealing his current favourite song is 'Pata Laguga' because of the little Punjabi he knows, he sees reflected in it and just loves the sound of the "pata laguga" part.

When a fan asked about what scenes Khan struggles with, he replied, "I am very shy, there a lot of scenes I can't do so I request the directors and writers 'please don't do this for me because I feel very awkward doing it'.

"One of the things which is very difficult for me to do as an actor is to laugh on screen so I try to avoid scenes where I have to laugh — which sounds very unreal. There are some scenes where you have to laugh — I remember in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, there's a basketball scene with Kajol [and] I just couldn't laugh. Karan [Johar] had to make the small kid who says tussi jarahay ho make funny some faces so that I could laugh in the scene. Even then I could not do it as well as I wish I had. Laughing is difficult for me."

Commenting on his upcoming film Pathaan he said that the process of filmmaking is more important than the film itself for him. This is the kind of "cool action film" he has wanted to do for 30 years, so he has really been enjoying filming it.

Answering another fan's question about his favourite part about his look in the film, he said it was the long hair. He elaborated and talked about an odd thing about the hair — he and the lead female actor had the same hair length. "The only weird thing about the hair look was many a times, Deepika [Padukone] and I had the same hairstyle so this was the first time I had to discuss with my costar what hairstyle are you having [done] so I don't copy it."

Reading out a question that asked the Devdas actor whether he still "vibes" to 'Chaiyya Chaiyya', he responded, "I'm assuming vibe means to dance on 'Chaiyya Chaiyya — that's one step I know even in my sleep, while sitting I can also do it." He then busted out some moves from the music video.

Returning to his three-decade anniversary, Khan said, "The first thing about working in films is that they don't seem like 30 years, it seems like yesterday I started working. I was just speaking with my wife and my kids — nobody here realises the extent till I myself read the hashtag 30 years of Shah Rukh Khan in films — 30 years is a long time, it's a lifetime. I never thought I would last 30 years.

"I came down to Mumbai hoping that I would be able to work for a year maybe, two years at most, do five, six, sever, eight, 10 films. If things don't work out, I'll find a job — I've done my studies in economics and mass communication — I always felt I would find a job in the media, I'll find something to do with films even if it was lighting the setup [or] being a sound assistant. I just love films! So I always thought if I don't make it as an actor, I'll leave after a year or so [and] go back to doing some job here in Mumbai on the sets for other people."

Khan added that cinema is what inspires him and makes him feel very happy.

If the actor didn't predict he would last this long, we know his fans sure did. Congratulations to the actor on 30 years in the industry!