Shah Rukh Khan shares advice for aspiring actors at Dubai Global Freight Summit

Be yourself – don’t create a false image:
Shah Rukh emphasized the importance of authenticity. He advises aspiring actors to avoid trying to “create an image” or create a role for themselves. Instead, he encouraged them to “be yourself,” emphasizing that true success comes from honest and sincere effort. In an industry filled with trends and pressure to fit in, it’s crucial to stay true to yourself.

Focus on long-term goals, not short-term gains:
SRK urges aspiring actors to think about their career in terms of long-term rather than short-term fame. “Strive for long-term goals, not short-term gains,” he said. He acknowledges that these may sound cliche, but stresses that life has to offer more than the temporary satisfaction of just 15 minutes of fame.

Embrace hard work and learn from your mistakes:
One of the central themes of his advice is the importance of hard work, persistence and the courage to fail. SRK emphasizes that failure is not the end but part of the process. He told viewers to “make the same mistakes over and over again” and try to learn from each mistake. For him, success is built on resilience, not perfection.

reflect and blame:
SRK also talked about the importance of introspection after failure rather than self-pity. He explains that when something doesn’t work, it’s not necessarily that the “product” or “service” is defective, but it could be a misunderstanding of the environment or audience. He emphasizes that if the actors or creators cannot elicit the right emotions from the audience, then the work is unlikely to resonate. This emphasizes the importance of understanding your audience and adjusting accordingly.

Face criticism and embrace failure:
SRK admits that he is often critical of his work, admitting that he sometimes goes through moments of despair. However, he stresses, it’s important not to internalize failure or assume the world is against you. “The world is not against you,” he said, advising people to admit when things go wrong, take responsibility and then move on. For SRK, the key to overcoming setbacks is not to wallow in them, but to “get up and keep going.”

The importance of resilience:
He shared his personal philosophy on dealing with disappointment, saying that while moments of despair are inevitable, the key is to “shut up, get up and get on with it.” Life is constantly moving forward and you cannot let setbacks define you. SRK’s resilience and ‘never give up’ attitude have been at the core of his career and he urges others to adopt the same mindset.

One of the most poignant moments of the speech was when SRK was asked if he had ever criticized his own performance. His candid admission that he sometimes “crys a lot in the bathroom” reveals a vulnerable side of the superstar that fans don’t often see. However, in true SRK style, he was quick to remind the audience that failure should not be viewed as a personal failure or conspiracy. Instead, they should be viewed as learning opportunities.

Shah Rukh Khan’s advice reflects the journey of a man who has experienced the highs of success and the lows of failure. His message to aspiring actors and professionals is simple yet profound: Stay true to yourself, keep working toward your long-term goals, accept failure as part of the process, and never lose faith in your ability to bounce back. With his unique blend of humility, perseverance and optimism, SRK continues to inspire countless people in and outside the film industry to keep pushing forward despite adversity.