Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has described himself as a “semi-orphan” and an “outsider” in the Hindi film industry, drawing parallels between his own life and the story of Mufasa in Disney’s The Lion King. In a video shared by Walt Disney Studios India on Instagram, Shah Rukh opened up about his journey, his connection to Mufasa, and his experience voicing the character in the Hindi adaptation of the beloved classic.
“If I were to not be humble and say, ‘Haan, meri hi kahaani aisi hai’ (Yes, my story is like this), then it could fit in,” Shah Rukh said in the clip. “Technically speaking, anyone who doesn’t have parents is an orphan. I did lose my parents in my youth, so I’m a semi-orphan.”
Reflecting on his journey to stardom, Shah Rukh added, “It’s the story of an outsider. No family of mine has been in the business of filmmaking. I came from Delhi to Mumbai, so main outsider bhi hoon (I’m an outsider as well). It’s the story of the King. So, yeah, I’m a king.”
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The actor also expressed his admiration for Mufasa, describing him as a symbol of sacrifice, loyalty, and friendship. “There were so many emotions while I was dubbing the film. I thought, ‘What a nice person, what a great character. Kitna accha human being sher hai (what a nice human being lion).’”
Shah Rukh has lent his voice to Mufasa in the Hindi version of The Lion King, with his son Aryan Khan voicing Simba and his youngest son AbRam contributing as the voice of young Mufasa. The star-studded cast also features Sanjay Mishra as Pumbaa, Shreyas Talpade as Timon, and Meiyang Chang as Taka.
Speaking about the character, Shah Rukh previously said, “Mufasa has an incredible legacy and stands as the ultimate king of the jungle, imparting his wisdom to his son, Simba. I deeply relate to him as a father and resonate with Mufasa’s journey in the film.”
Mufasa: The Lion King is set to release in cinemas on December 20 in English, Hindi, and Tamil, promising a heartfelt experience for audiences across generations.