SRK: The case of the imploding mega-star

by Avirook Sen Out there in the cosmos, stars that shine much brighter than the sun die a spectacular death caused by their heavy hearts. Their core has such great mass, that gravity fuses gases into successively weightier elements. Sulfur, magnesium, silicon… and finally iron. Iron at the core means death for a star. The energy consumed in fusing elements into iron is greater than the energy released in the fusion process. With no energy radiating outwards, the gravity of the iron at its centre makes the rest of the star collapse onto itself at tremendous velocities. As one science website puts it: “the star starts consuming itself from inside out.” Are these the kind of cosmic forces that are causing the implosion of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan? You could say so. Just replace iron with a fusion of ‘ego’ and (a) ‘sense of entitlement’. Like the healthiest stars in space, the early Shah Rukh Khan had a luminosity whose source was levity at the core. He never seemed to take himself too seriously. Had a sense of mischief, and an effervescent, unscripted wit. Once, early-ish in his career, when he was told he had only five expressions in his repertoire, he laughed and said: “the others have four.” Once, he had cleverly (and sincerely) said: “I would rather have peace of mind, than a piece of ass.” Once. That time has well and truly passed. The year gone by has seen the hardening of the core (and perhaps a heavyness of the heart) that seems to move the superstar inexorably towards the fate that the greatest bodies in cosmos must face some day. His behaviour in public is a symptom. Where once he ducked and weaved expertly, smiling at his adversary in the face of provocation, he now thrusts a jab (or slap). In January, his one-time friend and industry colleague (the irritating) Shirish Kunder felt one. Kunder hadn’t been kind in a tweet about Khan’s big project, Ra.One. [caption id=“attachment_325924” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Recently, SRK got involved in a brawl with the security staff at the Wankhede stadium. He claimed that his wards were manhandled, so he lost his cool. But how appropriate is it to let fly all those ma behenkis and threaten to kill people in the presence of children? AFP”]  [/caption] Recently, at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium he got involved in an ugly scene with the police. He claimed (and there may be some truth in this) that his wards were manhandled, so he lost his cool. But how appropriate is it to let fly all those _ma behenkis_and threaten to kill people in the presence of children under your charge? His work in recent times should be a source of further disappointment to him. But the sense of entitlement that tells him anything he does will work well, is capable of turning the argument around in his head when it doesn’t: ‘if they don’t like it, then they’re the fools’. His films have hardly matched their hype. As for his television appearances, there have been some lamentable lows. The worst of them being a poorly scripted, juvenile ‘comic action’ show (where people are hit with large soft objects and have embarrassing falls) called Zor ka Jhatka. As the failures fused into one another, the core seemed to become denser. And what of the heavy heart? After nearly two decades in the business, the first serious rumours of an SRK affair made ripples that would not die down. The lady in question is Priyanka Chopra. The tabloids feasted on the story: it didn’t help that the two were photographed together at 3 am, and their security details tried and failed to apprehend the brave photographer. In Bollywood, such a thing affects the work of the lesser star and the home of the superstar. From invites to parties, to getting work, Ms Chopra was having a bit of a hard time. She fed the tabloids a juicy morsel. Speaking in the deniable third person (“thunders a close friend and associate…”) she spoke derisively of insecure star wives. India got its clearest view of the aggrieved party, Shah Rukh’s wife Gauri, on the night of the IPL final. His franchise had won, but SRK made a pathetic spectacle of himself. He clarified that he wasn’t drunk (if not, then what?), offered belated apologies. Surrounded by the shield of his children, he tried to get Gauri to dance the dance of the happy family for TV—and failed. Her body language spoke clearly and scathingly that night. What remained was the sight of a star consuming itself from inside out.