Shah Rukh Khan reveals he had spoken to Netflix about son Aryan Khan's job during COVID, says, "maine Netflix ke logon se baat bhi ki thi"

SRK with family

Shah Rukh Khan, Bollywood’s iconic superstar, recently opened up about his son Aryan Khan’s career journey during the “Next on Netflix” event. In a candid and heartfelt conversation, Shah Rukh revealed how he had initially envisioned Aryan’s professional debut in the entertainment industry and how unexpected circumstances, including the COVID-19 pandemic, redirected Aryan’s path towards filmmaking. The story highlights a father’s dedication to nurturing his child’s dreams while underscoring Aryan’s determination to forge his own path in the entertainment world.

At the event, Shah Rukh unveiled the title of Aryan Khan’s directorial debut, The Bds of Bollywood, a show backed by his production house, Red Chillies Entertainment. This announcement marked a significant milestone for Aryan, who had long been preparing for a career behind the camera. Shah Rukh shared that Aryan, a graduate of the prestigious University of Southern California (USC), studied direction and production with the intention of stepping into the industry through meaningful opportunities.

Revealing his initial plans for Aryan, Shah Rukh said, “He did his learning on how to do direction and production at USC. I had talked to Ted Sarandos and Bela Bajaria to see if Aryan could get a job at Netflix so that he could assist someone there.” For those unfamiliar, Ted Sarandos is Netflix’s CEO, while Bela Bajaria serves as the company’s Chief Content Officer. This gesture reflects Shah Rukh’s foresight and desire to ensure Aryan gained firsthand experience in Hollywood’s vibrant and competitive entertainment landscape.

However, like many plans disrupted by the pandemic, Aryan’s opportunity to work at Netflix did not materialize. Shah Rukh explained, “If it wasn’t for COVID, I’d have talked to Ted and Bela to give him a job at Netflix so that he could assist someone there. But COVID happened, so he came back to India and then he started writing.” The global crisis altered Aryan’s trajectory, bringing him back home, where he began focusing on storytelling and scriptwriting—a decision that would later culminate in his directorial debut.

The close relationship between Shah Rukh’s production house, Red Chillies Entertainment, and Netflix added another layer of context to the story. Over the years, Red Chillies has collaborated with Netflix to produce several acclaimed projects, including Bard of Blood, Betaal, and Class of ’83. Given this history, Shah Rukh naturally saw Netflix as a platform where Aryan could hone his skills and learn the nuances of international filmmaking. Unfortunately, the timing did not align, but it ultimately led Aryan to discover his passion for creating original content.

Aryan’s upcoming project, The Bds of Bollywood*, is co-created by Bilal Siddiqi and Manav Chauhan, with Gauri Khan, Aryan’s mother, serving as the producer. While the title has already stirred curiosity among fans and industry insiders, the project itself signifies Aryan’s bold step into the limelight as a creative force. The show is expected to explore an unconventional narrative, reflecting Aryan’s fresh perspective on storytelling.

During the event, Shah Rukh also took a moment to reflect on his children’s burgeoning careers. Speaking about Aryan and his younger daughter Suhana, who made her acting debut in Zoya Akhtar’s The Archies, Shah Rukh shared his heartfelt hopes for their success. “It is my prayer that even if they get 50 percent of the love that I have received, then it will be a lot for them,” he said, adding a touch of humility to his proud fatherly sentiments.

While Aryan has chosen to focus on direction and storytelling, Suhana is pursuing acting, demonstrating the diversity of talents within the Khan family. Suhana, who garnered attention with her performance in The Archies, is also gearing up for her big-screen debut in Siddharth Anand’s crime thriller King, alongside Shah Rukh, Abhishek Bachchan, and Abhay Verma. With both siblings embarking on exciting ventures, Shah Rukh expressed his gratitude for the opportunities they have received and the love they continue to garner from audiences.