She is someone whose husband has the whole nation wrapped around his little finger while she has him eating out of the palm of her hand. She is a television and a film producer. She plays a Queen to her husband, the ‘King of Bollywood’. She is a closet interior decorator and a super mom and is also a style icon for women across India. Appearing as a guest on Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla’s show, Gauri Khan spills some beans on her hubby.
You and Shahrukh Khan are totally self-made. Isn’t it an incredible high to achieve so much at such a young age ?
“Absolutely, it’s amazing and we thank god every day for whatever we have but I think Shahrukh is extremely hard working so he deserves every bit of it.”
Were you really the rock, the pillar behind Shahrukh ?
Actually that’s not true because I was not too happy about him coming to Bombay and I didn’t even know when he became a star. It was very shocking for me firstly to be here and films and everything. It was very difficult. And I actually did not want his films to do well. I thought if it flopped I should go back to Delhi.
“He (Shah Rukh) was always ambitious. He always topped in school and college, whether it be as a student; in football, in hockey, in theatre ... everything. For me, whatever he would touch would turn into gold. I was smart to marry him. I think that’s my smartness that I chose the right guy.”
You and Shahrukh met quiet early almost in the teens ...
“Yes he was the first person I met and went out with and he has been the only man.”
In India Shahrukh has done almost everything and it would be wonderful if he goes to Hollywood. Comment?
“If today he says I don’t want to act and be just a director or producer I’ll be fine with whatever he’s happy with. I’d rather have him with kids; spend more time at home that would be better for me.”
Is it true that you and Shahrukh had to fight to be together?
“Yes my parents were obviously not for it because we were so young and then to take a decision to get married to a person who was going to join films and being from a different religion. We even changed his name to ‘Abhinav’ so that they feel he was a Hindu boy and that was really silly and childish.”
How did you make the decision to leave everything behind in Delhi and follow the man of your dream ?
“It’s been an amazing journey I would say. When I came to Bombay everything was new, life was very different, new people and new home but I enjoyed every bit of it. But we used to visit Delhi very often in the beginning.”
Where did you put up in the early days in Bombay ?
“Mr. Aziz Mirza - we stayed at his place for 6 months. It was very sweet of him and then we rented an apartment and there was nothing. My mom came from Delhi and there was no bed there, no sofa, no chair, just a kitchen. She was shocked to see me like that. She said, ‘Why don’t you have a bed? Where is the chair?’ So I said, ‘This is the ‘Gadda’ (mattress) sleep on this’.”
Do you remember the date Shahrukh bought you the first diamond ?
“I bought it myself! I grabbed it actually. I’m quite a grabber. He doesn’t have to gift me anything.”
What’s the one thing you love doing together?
“Watching desperate house wives. He loves to watch that with me.”
Do you miss the earlier days, the simple times?
Shahrukh said, “No I don’t miss them. People ask me this question very often but I don’t miss going and having ‘chaat’ in ‘Gol Market’, I’ve never wanted to eat pav bhaji on Chaupatty either. I’m very happy being a star. I love what comes with it. I also appreciate the hard work I have to do for it and I don’t want to wear dark glasses to hide from the world that I’m a superstar and I really enjoy it.”