At the time Shah Rukh Khan started his career, if he had been asked what his dream was, he would have said he wanted to be a bigger star than Michael Jackson.
SRK had indeed said this once for an old interview, which he told Rajesh Kesav years later when he ruled Bollywood and became the King Khan we know him to be. Rajesh, an eager young television anchor while interviewing Khan said, “Black and white clothes, aviators, ponytail, you have got it all (like MJ) and you have become a bigger star.” SRK laughed and then asked, “Yes, yes, so what is your ambition?" Rajesh didn’t have to think before he replied, “To be a bigger star than SRK.”
He has been on television for more than 10 years now, hosting shows and award nights, and interviewing celebrities. From Amitabh Bachchan to Mohanlal and Mammootty, from Kamal Hasaan to Vijay and Surya, he has interviewed pretty much all the big names.
“Why are there no women in the list?” he was asked. “Oh yes, there was Deepika Padukone, Sreedevi, Shruti Hassan, Nayantara, and others,” Rajesh Kesava a.k.a. RK reels off a long list of names. But then television has not been his ultimate dream. It is the first step he took towards becoming an actor in films, a dream that took shape as he read every single film magazine and watched all the movies that were released. “When I do my interviews, I ask my questions, light-hearted ones, like a fan. If I ever get to interview Rajini Kanth (which is a fascination of mine!) I would ask him, “When was the first time a fan asked you for an autograph?”
Perhaps it is this rapport that he has with the stars that made him think of starting his own show on television where he regularly interviews celebrities from all fields.
A takeoff from the Koffee With Karan, but not quite like it! “There won’t be a regular format for my show, for instance.” He is in talks with Asianet about the show, while also continuing to pursue his bigger dreams of acting.
Rajesh has appeared in cameo roles in three films, Trivandrum Lodge, Beautiful and NeeNa. Now he waits for more roles in films, because he was not kidding when he said he wants to be a bigger star than SRK. He means it!
