Shah Rukh Khan and SS Rajamouli Featured in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People List

Actor Shah Rukh Khan and Director SS Rajamouli are on a roll. Shah Rukh Khan made a powerful comeback with ‘Pathan’ after a long hiatus. The movie did immensely well at the box office despite facing initial boycott threats. 

SS Rajamouli became a global star overnight with the success of the epic drama movie RRR. The film also scored brownie points as ‘Naatu Naatu’ song from his film won the Oscar for Best Original Song. 

Both the world icons have been featured in Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2023 list. 

The other popular names in the list include US President Joe Biden, King Charles, Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska, author Salman Rushdie, television host and judge Padma Lakshmi, Syrian-born swimmers and activists Sara Mardini and Yusra Mardini, Actor Austin Butler, Drew Barrymore, star icon Bella Hadid, billionaire CEO Elon Musk and iconic singer and artist Beyonce.

Shah Rukh Khan’s profile on TIME was written by none other than ‘Pathan’ co-star Deepika Padukone. Describing Shah Rukh Khan’s persona and their relationship, Deepika Padukone wrote, “I’ll never forget the first time I met Shah Rukh Khan. I had just arrived in Mumbai from Bangalore with one suitcase and a dream. The next thing I knew, I was sitting in his house! I was being considered for a role in a film opposite him.”

“It’s been 16 years since. What makes our relationship special is the love, trust, and respect we have for one another. Shah Rukh Khan will forever be known as one of the greatest actors of all time. But what truly sets him apart is his mind, his chivalry, his generosity. The list goes on …For someone who has known him intimately and cares for him deeply, 150 words will never do justice to the phenomenon that is Shah Rukh Khan.”

Coming to S S Rajamouli, his profile was written by actress Alia Bhatt. The actress was all praise for the award winning director. She expressed that she had a strong desire to work with the director while she was watching Baahubali 2. “Lo and behold, the dream came true”, she wrote. 

Alia described Rajamouli  as a “master storyteller because he genuinely loves the flair and abandon of stories.”

“India is a massive country with diverse demographics, tastes, and culture. But he gets that—and he unites us through his movies.”

When Alia asked him for advice on acting he once said, “Whatever choice you make, just do that with love. Because even if the film doesn’t work, the audience will see love in your eyes for what you’re doing.”