People have hopes, ideas, wishes and dreams they would like to realize. There are those who give up for whatever reasons; they burry their hopes, keep their ideas for themselves, abandon their wishes and live their dreams only in their minds. Then there are those who seem to have all the luck in the world – at least according to the unfortunate ones. They live the hopes, ideas, wishes and dreams they say to have or to have had and often, they even live the hopes, ideas, wishes and dreams others had or have in mind. Well, maybe luck is somehow involved but in my eyes, it is only one of many ingredients.

 

Our world is focussing on success. Still people mostly submit themselves to the maxim that success gives power and only the strong survives. Where is the love for what one is doing or living, where the fun? Honestly, should success be the aim?

 

Success is clearly something most people aspire after. Along the way, values like honesty, compassion and courtesy are often left behind; some even strip self-esteem by climbing the ladder.

 

I suffered a serious loss of energy when I met that European lady in the Atrium Lounge of the Taj Lands End hotel in Mumbai. It was her story that made me think that the importance may not lie in reaching a goal yet in the way one goes although one may not achieve what one initially wanted. Success could be a bonus. When I asked her about a possible failure she replied: “You know, I am passionate about my work, I love what I am doing. So I will keep trying as long as I don’t get a clear sign that I’m on the wrong way. If it turns out to be a cul-de-sac I nevertheless enjoyed the way.” Her enthusiasm, unflinching determination and patience aroused not only my admiration but also my interest. Actually, she inspired me to write a book about her adventure.[1]

 

Those who are familiar with Shahrukh Khan’s work know that through his professional activities he exploits a variety of his talents. Almost every public appearance is manifoldly monitored, written down and commented. Actually, what would an artist be without exposing at least his work to the public eye? Shahrukh Khan’s profession and the position he has acquired even demand publicity.

 

Reading about him I constantly come across the word ‘self-made’ as he had not the bonus of stemming from one of the numerous film families that inhabit the Mumbai film industry. However, personally, I dislike this expression as I don’t believe that any being can make it only by itself as everything and everybody you meet on your way will somehow influence what is brought along at the birth. Sure, I would agree that it was him, and him only, who used his talents and grit such that it brought him to the position he actually has. Yet calling him self-made, would that not deny all the stimuli, support and help he got and still gets on his way? That’s why I gave to the book the title Industry & Talent – Shahrukh Khan and the Art of Work as it is about Shahrukh Khan and about some people who work or have worked with him or for him.

 

The filmmaker Karan Johar, close friend to Shahrukh Khan, said in an interview that he believes that whatever Shahrukh Khan would have chosen as profession he would excel in. That seems appropriate to me as I see him as someone who puts his creativity, intelligence, zest, determination, competitive spirit, courage, and other abilities into what he chooses as activity. He does not shy away from hard work to translate his ideas into action.

 

Painting a picture of Shahrukh Khan’s art of work will always include his way to deal with people and to present himself in the public eye. This book may not reveal surprising secrets as art is not necessarily about showing explicitly what is going on in a person. I think, art is – at the best – casting a light on ideas, sensitivities, penchants, skills, and talents.

 

This book – seen as a sequel – continues, where I left the story of Fluke & Serendipity. The reader will again meet a woman who tries to see beyond the person of her interest.

To this day, we have kept in touch, mainly through emails. On several occasions she could witness “Shahrukh at work” as she phrased it. She had also met people working or having worked with or for Shahrukh Khan.

 

Industry & Talent begins with the email she wrote some time after I left her in Geneva for writing about the first part of her adventure.

 

Let the journey continue…

 

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