At a recent award ceremony, Shah Rukh Khan paid a heartfelt tribute to the iconic Dilip Kumar, sharing a deeply personal memory that has stayed with him throughout his career. The poignant moment occurred as the late legendary actor was posthumously honored with the Cine Icon Award. Saira Banu, Dilip Kumar’s wife, entrusted Shah Rukh Khan with the honor of accepting the award on her behalf.
During his acceptance speech, SRK recalled the immense warmth and affection he received from Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu when he first arrived in Mumbai. He expressed his gratitude for the immense privilege of being chosen to accept the award. “When I first came to Mumbai, Dilip Sahab and Saira ji welcomed me into their home,” Shah Rukh shared. He then recounted Dilip Kumar’s touching words: ‘Saira, if we had a son, he would have been like this.’ This blessing, Shah Rukh revealed, has been a guiding light throughout his life and career.
He further elaborated on the significance of that moment, stating, “Every step of my journey in this industry, I have carried that blessing in my heart. That was his greatness, and that was Saira ji’s love.” Shah Rukh Khan concluded by honoring Dilip Kumar as the ultimate benchmark for generations of actors in the film industry.