Shah Rukh Khan has avoided media, paparazzi since 2021, here’s why

Actor Shah Rukh Khan, who was well-known for being amicable to the media, used to avoid being photographed by hiding behind an umbrella or a black curtain when attending public events. It’s now becoming clear that he did it out of resentment toward the media for how they covered the arrest of his son, Aryan Khan.

Since Aryan was detained in a 2021 “drugs on cruise” case, Shah Rukh has avoided the cameras. Mumbai-based photographer Varinder Chawla discussed the cause of it and related an instance in which he received a call from the Pathaan star in a recent interview with Hindi Rush.

He stated, “When Pathaan released in 2023, then my team had spotted Shah Rukh Khan and they sent it to me. But, I didn’t like it because it seemed like we were invading his privacy. And SRK seemed angry. Then I made a call to the actor’s PR, informed them about the video my team recorded and told them that I won’t be using it. And apologised to them on behalf of my team for invading their privacy.”

“You will not believe me, soon after my call, I quickly received a call from SRK’s manager who first thanked me and then informed me that Shah Rukh wanted to speak to me. I was in shock. From running behind his car to get a glimpse of him to getting a call from him, it seemed too unreal. I said, ‘anytime’. We spoke for over five minutes. After speaking to him, I realised his love for his children, his son Aryan Khan. I too have children, if people went around talking ill and negative things about my children, I too would feel sad. He was so sad, upset back then, we didn’t care about that. We just kept complaining SRK doesn’t give us photos and always hides his face. He is mad at the media for what they did to his son,” he further added.

More about the case

Due to allegations of drug possession, Ryan was detained in the Cordelia Cruise case back in 2021 and spent 22 days in jail. Eventually, the allegations against him were dropped. Actually, Shah Rukh had paid Aryan a visit while he was incarcerated. The reporters and photographers hounded him during his excursion. He has refrained from getting photographed ever since.