Bollywood 'badshah' Shah Rukh Khan, who in over twenty five years of his career, has perfect the tricks of the trade in bollywood film industry, says no one is "smarter" than him.
A proud father of three kids- Aryan and AbRam and Suhana- shah Rukh minces no words in speaking his mind.
And so, when reporter asked him if he finds his elder son Aryan, who recently graduated, smarter than he was throughout his youth, the 50-year-old said with a smile: "Nobody is smarter than me."
"Better looking, maybe."
Do you extremely think so?
Pat came the reply: "I think so... and he wears better clothes because he takes my clothes. But smart, no."
What concerning three-year-old AbRam, who looks to be getting rid of the lion's share within the cuteness quotient?
"I say this straight away- there is nobody smarter than me... Outside the family or inside my family. i am too cool," srk reiterated.
Reporter caught up with shah Rukh for a fast chat whereas he was here on Tuesday at KidZania, a edutainment destination of that he owns a stake of twenty six per cent.
The second such destination in india, KidZania- that 1st began operations in Mumbai in 2013 opened its doors here on may 26. With paved roads, battery-operated vehicles, buildings, a completely functional economy with its own currency together with twenty seven real world brands, the place offers an authentic universe experience to its young guests for role-playing activities that promote learning with fun.
"I try to do things for children. sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. Mashallah, this one has worked very well," said the actor-producer, who is one in all Indian cinema's top-rated and highest paid stars.
Edutainment, the "Fan" star feels, could be a "space which may grow in India".
"Around 10 to 15 years past, we were a developing nation, but now india is at the cusp of being developed. One has to understand that first come 'Roti, kapda aur makaan'. Then come entertainment and edutainment, and i think we are on the cusp of that.
"That's why you are seeing the IPL (Indian Premier League), the Kabaddi league, and more such things coming up. the big thing here is going to be looking after the children," said SRK, expressing hope that "there's a huge possibility of doing things in terms of television, films, theme parks, outdoor sports activities and more for children in India".
"We look at the West and say, 'How come they have so many things for their kids?' however it's because some of them are developed nations that they can venture out into this," he added.
But aren't today's children in india more priviledged than those in your childhood days?
"I think it's two parts- priviledged yes, of course, and they should be so. i believe each child in this nation should be priviledged, even the under-priviledged. they should really rise to a level wherever every parent looks at them and say, 'Wow, my child has much more'. And in every way- education wise, finances wise and entertainment wise.
"But the second part is that we had a lot more outdoor stuff. we tanned a lot more. we sweated a lot more. we could all turn around and say, 'We worked hard under the sun'. however times have changed," quipped shah Rukh, whose next release is "Raees".
A tech-savvy person, shah Rukh feels an area like KidZania continues to be "more outdoor" as compared to what today's kids do in the digital world.
"I am not anti the digital part, however this is more outdoor compared to what they are doing on an iPad, iPhone or a telephone. Plus, i would tell all children, 'Please go outdoors', and tell their parents to take them out to the fields."
