My children are my harshest critics, says Shahrukh Khan

Describing his children as his harshest critics, Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan says he has become a better film actor thanks to them.

Writing in the magazine of The Mail on Sunday on "The Secrets of my success", Khan wrote, "Now I have kids, I enjoy them more than acting, but it''s certain I''ve become a better film actor thanks to them as well.

"They''re my harshest critics. They''re honest and say things like, ''That''s no good; you can do better.'' If you appeal to their honesty, I think you can be a very good actor," he added.

With 70 films to his name, hundreds of millions of fans and 13 Filmfare awards, Bollywood''s equivalent of Oscars, seven of his being for Best Actor, Khan can lay claim to the title of world''s biggest film star, the report said.

As well as being a successful actor, producer and TV presenter, he has fronted the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, and owns the Kolkata Knight Riders, an IPL cricket team.

Khan, 44, wrote he never thought he would be an actor.

"I wanted to be a footballer, but I got injured, and because I had nothing to do in the evenings I started work on a play.

Suddenly my life''s timetable changed, and I began doing theatre; then television came to India, so I did a TV series that did very well. After doing a degree in economics, I went to film school, then went to Mumbai for a year. Just for a laugh and a change of scene, I moved into acting in films."

In his inimical style, Khan added, "When I was young I was even more stupid than I am now. I was very self-absorbed and I really thought I was fantastic - I went as far as writing a song called I''m The Best. It sounds pompous to think of it now, but at that point I really thought I couldn''t fail.

I''d lost my parents, I didn''t have a home, I couldn''t go any lower. So I tackled the world head-on. When you have nothing to lose it means there''s everything to win.

Noting that there''s no secret formula to success, the ace actor wrote, "Life is not about putting everything into place and planning the last detail. No doubt it''ll work fine for you, but it won''t bring magical success."

Focusing on the value of one''s education, Khan added, "I never had a house when I started off, but because I was educated I was able to do a lot. It''s nice to have a rags-to-riches story if you become successful. If your story isn''t that, then nobody likes it. But I''m proud that I now have a house that I''ve provided for my children. I know it sounds a small thing but it means a lot to me."