Veteran actor and producer Viveck Vaswani, a long-time friend and early supporter of Shah Rukh Khan, has recently spoken about his role in the superstar's career and his willingness to extend support to Shah Rukh's children, Aryan and Suhana Khan.
Vaswani, who provided Shah Rukh Khan with a place to stay when he first arrived in Mumbai, asserts that he went out of his way to help the budding actor meet directors and producers, effectively launching his career. He emphasizes that helping friends and family is simply human nature. In a recent interview, Vaswani stated, "When I could go out of my way for my friend Shah Rukh, why shouldn't he do the same for his own children? Woh toh dost tha, yeh toh beta hai. He'll do everything he can for his son. And if he called me and said do anything for Aryan and Suhana, I would do it too. Where's the problem in helping youngsters succeed?".
Vaswani has a history of spotting and nurturing talent. Besides Shah Rukh Khan, he is credited with launching Raveena Tandon and giving breaks to numerous others in the film industry. He co-produced films like "Patthar Ke Phool" and "Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman," which were instrumental in establishing Shah Rukh Khan's career.
Addressing the ongoing debate about nepotism in Bollywood, Vaswani offers a grounded perspective. He believes that while support and mentorship are valuable, ultimately, every artist must prove their merit. He expressed his support for Aryan and Suhana's endeavors, noting Aryan's directorial debut with "The Ba***ds of Bollywood" and Suhana's upcoming role in the film "King". He added, "I bless them. I wish them all the success. I thought Suhana was very good in The Archies. I thought Aryan directed The Bads of Bollywood very well. I'm fully supportive. They're Shah Rukh's kids — I'd support them even if it wasn't that good, like I would my own children. They'll make mistakes, they'll grow, they'll rise".
Vaswani also reflected on his personal bond with Shah Rukh Khan, recalling the early days of their friendship and the support he provided. However, he also made some controversial claims, stating that Shah Rukh Khan never struggled as an outsider in the industry and lived in Cuffe Parade before marrying Gauri Khan. He contrasted the initial warmth and affection Shah Rukh received from industry figures like Aziz Mirza and himself with what he perceives as Shah Rukh's later critical views on Bollywood.
Despite these claims, Vaswani maintains a positive outlook on the younger generation of actors and filmmakers. He believes in supporting young talent, regardless of their background, and sees it as part of the creative process. He emphasized that at his age, he prefers to support rather than dismiss young people.
Shah Rukh Khan's film "King," slated for release in 2026, will feature Suhana Khan, marking her theatrical debut. The film boasts a star-studded cast, including Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, and others, and is directed by Siddharth Anand.
