A Masterclass in Conduct

A viral moment at the Filmfare Awards reminds India that Shah Rukh Khan’s true impact lies not in stardom, but in the unwavering dignity and gentleness he brings to every interaction with women

- ADITYA GOLE THE WRITER IS A COMMUNICATION PROFESSIONAL AND FORMER JOURNALIST

SRK shows India how masculinity can be gentle, not performative

itanshi Goel. 23 seconds. 53 Filmfare Awards. If you are still wrestling to wriggle through the wordy tease, let them be knitted together to narrate a story of respect - unadulterated and unabbreviated. The Phool Kumari of ‘Laapataa Ladies’ had her moment in the sun when she was awarded the ‘Best Debut (Female). Nitanshi was wearing an off-shoulder sunshine yellow mermaid gown with a flowy train. When the winner was announced, she gingerly walked up the stairs, brimming with nervous excitement. The host of the evening stepped down to lend a helping hand to the elegant lady. She stumbled only to be nestled in his arms, safe and secure. She was held to navigate onto the dais, her fishtail held together. She did feel special. She did feel shielded. Who did it or does it every time unfailingly? Shah Rukh Khan.

Why did I pitchfork a viral Instagram reel and land it in an opinion column? Netizens have already scrolled over it a zillion times. Millions loved it, thousands commented. We have seen Shah Rukh do it before and will see him doing it in the future. He did it for Rani Mukherjee. He did it for Gauri Khan. He also did it for Janki Bodiwala. There is no novelty in the act itself. But what SRK does perpetually is to knock hard and remind every Indian man how to treat women — a message reverberating and resounding.

Shah Rukh is beyond his films. He is beyond the film world. He is the phenomenon unrivalled. He is the magic unexplained. He is the love story of India spanning over decades. He is the novel we read onscreen and learn from offscreen. He is the cultural lodestar in “The Starry Night. His interviews or his public conduct is a masterclass for men where patriarchal highhandedness and gender equality are still debated discourses. ‘Respect’ and ‘Gentleness’ are the key words loading his spectrum whenever he opines on or engages with women.