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SRK Honors Mentor Viveck Vaswani in Emotional National Award Tribute

Instead of acknowledging Salman Khan or Karan Johar, who were the anticipated sources of thanks, Shah Rukh Khan had some fans misty-eyed with emotion, instead hitting back at Viveck Vaswani, who is the person who saw him in his first Bollywood role and let him stay with him as he struggled before he became financially secure and a household name. 

He and Vaswani had a 30-year-long friendship that exploded back onto Twitter with a sentimental exchange reminding all that a "King Khan" rarely exists without a mentor who was there first.  

Who is Viveck Vaswani?

Viveck Vaswani was a school dean but was a producer-actor in the early '90s when he cast SRK in Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman (1992). Their friendship existed before that first film, as Vaswani let a young Shah Rukh crash at his place in Mumbai when he had nowhere else to go. 

Their friendship remained intact over the years without much contact. "We don’t get to see each other; however, when we do, it is like those years have never gone by," said Vaswani at the reunion.  

In SRK's tweet - "All started with you. Raju finally ban gaya gentleman," he acknowledged Vaswani and their first film, where Vaswani played Lovechand Kukreja, the one who made such a memorable statement, "Mumbai is Heaven."

Viveck Vaswani posted on X (Twitter)  to thank Shah Rukh (source: Hindustan Times)

Why is This Win Important Beyond Just an Award?

For SRK, the National Award is not just a trophy. After 33 years, the National Award is closed, not only an award for all of his hard work after so many snubs and knocks on the door. Fans have been saying for a long time that he should have been awarded the National Award for Swades (2004), Chak De! India (2007), or My Name Is Khan (2010). But it was ultimately SRK's latest film called Jawan, which is a mass audience entertainer with action and social commentary, that has led to the National Award to finally be presented in brown glass to SRK. 

Beyond everything else, it also shows the National Awards have finally made adjustments for the commercial aspect of cinema. 

In his acceptance video, acknowledging the award, SRK spoke on behalf of the award and referred to it as a responsibility, and that "Acting is not just a way of working, but a way to share truth on screen." I find SRK's statement to be true. SRK has been on one of the longest journeys from outsider to India's most respected icon while maintaining an authentic self, along the way, somewhat of an impossible feat. 

Industry Reactions: From Mohanlal to Juhi Chawla

The news spread faster than anyone working in Bollywood could expect, and throughout Bollywood, some people were celebrating SRK's moment. Kamal Haasan said SRK was an "inspiration" to the industry, and Mohanlal got playfully asked to join in an "evening off." Juhi Chawla, A Shah Rukh Khan co-star from Darr and Yes Boss, shared a note about how proud she was, and while SRK's reply was "I’ve learned from the best". 

SRK's manager, Pooja Dadlani, also celebrated SRK's National Award, and she shared a most sentimental post: "A deeply deserving honour for all you’ve put into this".

From Raju to King: The Full Circle of a Superstar’s Dream 

Shah Rukh Khan winningthe National Award isn't merely a pinnacle for his career, it is a moment for all those people that made it possible. By recognizing Viveck Vaswani, SRK, it was also signalled to the whole world that stars may shine on their own, but should never forget those who held the ladder whilst they climbed. As he prepares to act in King with Suhana, it is an award to complete a circle for a man who first climbed the ladder as Raju, and then became a king.