Tumbbad actor-producer Sohum Shah recently opened up about the pivotal role Shah Rukh Khan played in shaping his Bollywood aspirations. In a candid interview with Pinkvilla, Sohum shared how SRK's journey from being an outsider to becoming one of the biggest stars in the Hindi film industry gave him and many others the courage to dream big in Bollywood.

Sohum reflected on how, before Shah Rukh's rise, the film industry was often seen as an exclusive domain for insiders. "If Shah Rukh Khan hadn’t come, it would have been like the industry belongs only to people from Bombay. Outsiders wouldn't have been welcomed," Sohum explained. He credited SRK for breaking this perception, noting that his success story, despite being born and raised in Delhi, inspired a generation of aspiring actors from outside Mumbai.

"From childhood, a seed grows inside you, telling you that you could also go there and do something because SRK did it. He came from Delhi and made a name for himself as an outsider. That gives people like us hope that we, too, can try," Sohum said, adding that Shah Rukh's journey has been a major source of inspiration for him. "He is no less than God to me."

Interestingly, in 2018, Shah Rukh Khan shared the trailer of Tumbbad on social media, helping the film gain more visibility. The movie has since made history as the highest-grossing re-release film of all time, earning over Rs 25 crore nett.

Shah Rukh's influence on outsiders in the industry continues to resonate, with Sohum Shah being one of many who have drawn inspiration from the superstar's remarkable journey.