Skip to main content

An era has ended with Sachin Tendulkar's retirement: Shah Rukh Khan

Hearing about Sachin's retirement made me feel for the first time, how one tends to take things for granted. Like the sun, or water, I had always thought Sachin would never walk away. I feel kind of emptied out. We began our careers more or less together, so there is an affinity I cannot explain, though, of course, he is much younger than me. 

Right now, sitting in Perth, I am getting a cold turkey kind of feeling. I grew up watching Sunil Gavaskar play, and I never thought anyone could possibly ever reach those heights. And then came Sachin. In the early days watching Sachin play, what had struck me was his bohemian simplicity of achieving something big, and I think Sachin never stopped playing freely. 

Though I respect his decision and know that I could never have influenced him, I wish I were in India to persuade him to play for maybe another 10 years? I have had many discussions on cricket with him, and this Almighty of cricket is the most informed expert on the game one can imagine. 

However cliched it sounds, an era has ended with him. There was a thing Sachin had said in an interview a few years ago - 'when people throw stones at you, turn them into milestones' - it is something I'll never forget. 

Sachin's work is his answer to critics 

Sachin replies to his critics on the field, his work is his answer. Because 99.9% who criticise him do not know 0.000% of cricket, as what Sachin has is a gift not just excellence, and one cannot question a gift of God. 

A while ago, my daughter Suhana and I wrote a poem for Sachin, where we had to introduce him on stage, a simple childish one, but he loved it and even asked us for it to keep it. From his great 24-year repertoire of games, one that stays is how he hit Shoaib Akhtar all over the boundary for fours and sixes, when Shoaib was really knocking Sachin out. He played fire with fire. I think it was one of the World Cup matches, though I am not very sure. 

Even today, my IPL team boys tell me, 'However tired Sachin sir is, he comes out and works out'. That kind of dedication is what he is made of. As a child, Sachin may have been born with a gift, but Sachin, the man, backed it with grit and determination. As for what he will do after retirement: I think he has already given the best years of his life to cricket and the sport. 

People don't realise how much he's given - he is an icon, a role model, he has given countless records to match or break. Cricket is already blessed by Sachin. In my opinion, he should now sit back and enjoy. 

A recent memorable moment was with Dilip (Kumar) saab and Sachin. We were shooting for a Filmfare cover with Dilip saab, Amitji and me, and Dilip saab mentioned Sachin's name. I told him the same, and he came to meet Dilip saab. The moment of watching Sachin standing next to Dilip saab was so pure and beautiful, so electrifying, that no camera could have captured that. My favourite shot of Sachin? When he moves away and hits a bouncer for a six from outside the off stump. 

(As told to Nandini Raghavendra) 

As a child, Sachin may have been born with a gift, but Sachin, the man, backed it with grit and determination: Shah Rukh Khan.

Source:

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Being SRK: The ultimate reality TV show

It's a job most Indians would die for — shadowing Shah Rukh Khan wherever he goes. For the last two months, that's exactly what a TV crew has been doing, following the country's biggest star from South Africa to America to London to Mumbai — all for the making of a unique six-part series on the actor, to be telecast on lifestyle channel Discovery Travel & Living. "It's an inner world-outer world kind of documentary," said Khan, speaking exclusively to HT. "Hopefully, the parts that people will get to see of me — at work and at other places — will shed some light on how films and film stars work and offer an insight into how I do things." Khan said he has got to know the crew quite well ("They have been very unobtrusive"). For Discovery Travel & Living, this series will be one of the biggest global productions to come out of India and will be shown all over the world. "We haven't yet decided when we're going to telec...

Aishwarya Rai and Shah Rukh Khan appreciate Fiji

Former Miss World and Bollywood actress – Aishwarya Rai says Fiji is always close to her heart. Rai was present at the recent Zee Cine Awards in Singapore which was covered by the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation – and thanked Fiji citizens for their support of the Bollywood industry. Rai told FBC's Mirchi FM Programs director – Shammi Lochan that the support from Fiji means a lot to her. "It is a great opportunity to tell all the listeners of Fiji- thank you so much for all your love, good wishes, the blessing, your emails, and the overwhelming support you all extend to me and my family. It means a lot to us as actors, as the audience are the ones that complete our lives." Bollywood King – Shah Rukh Khan, who visited Fiji in 1998 says he has fond memories of Fiji and is fascinated with the hospitality. " It was a great experience to come there and meet every one there so basically it was very wonderful experience there." Shah Rukh Khan is expected t...