Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; November 2, 2017)

Shah Rukh Khan says the dramatic curve of his success story hits him on his birthday every year when he walks out on the terrace of Mannat, to see a sea of fans waiting for him. “In Delhi, I’d celebrate the day with my family and few friends. But now, my family has become bigger. They are in lakhs. I see people from all over the world coming to celebrate my birthday and I wonder what have I done to receive so much love,” he says.

As Khan celebrates his 52nd birthday today, the actor says he has become ‘more’ — more self- aware and more willing to explore. “I haven’t had a big box-office success like my contemporaries, for some time. I may have a big hit in the future or I may not, but that has never been my yardstick to select films. I do it for the pure joy of making a film. I compete only with myself. I also know my limitations and try to work on them.”

Having completed 25 years in the industry, Khan says he understands the functioning of box-office, but refuses to be restricted by it. “When Chennai Express [2003] made more than Rs 200 crore, they said that the monkey is off my back. In my first interview post the film’s success, I said that the next big film will do better. That is exactly what happened. I can predict a movie’s business during the script narration. But I’ve never done a film for any reason apart from the fact that I want to be a part of it.”

The father of three is proud that Aryan and Suhana are showing increasing interest in movies. “Aryan sits for narrations of many films. I don’t know what he wants to do eventually, but he’s interested in movies.”