Has Shah Rukh Khan Forgotten the Responsibility That Comes with Fame?

A video had gone viral showing a bedridden teenager, a die-hard fan of Cristiano Ronaldo, crying after Portugal’s exit from the FIFA World Cup 2026. “I will not get to see Cristiano play again,” he kept mumbling through his tears.

I kept thinking about that teenager for many days.

In his most agonizing life situation, lying on his bed 24 hours a day, he had found joy in watching Cristiano Ronaldo play.

That is when I realized something. Celebrities often have no idea how deeply they become a part of someone else’s life.

The Influence Celebrities Don’t Realize They Have

Celebrities, as expected, are always working on their brands and doing all they can to improve their social media following. They even use PR to add value to their brand.
For a celebrity, the fan may simply be one of millions of fans he has, but for the true blue fan, the celebrity is his idol.

“Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” — Albert Schweitzer

The fans celebrate the victories of the celebs as if they are their own.
Once someone gets this position in someone’s life, he does not remain a celebrity anymore

Fame Comes With Responsibility

Once admiration reaches that level, celebrities stop being mere entertainers. They become role models whose choices influence attitudes, habits, and even values. Some celebrities even forget that their success was made possible by the countless ordinary people who supported them.

Unruly behavior from fans should never be entertained, but fans do deserve a little attention, for it is they who made these celebrities what they are today.

And with that admiration comes responsibility.

When Influence Is Misused

Some celebrities seem to drift away from the values they once stood for after achieving success.

Lance Armstrong was once hailed as an embodiment of perseverance and resilience. He was loved by millions of people not only because he was a professional cyclist but also because he was an inspirational figure who had fought cancer and emerged victorious in the realm of sports. But when he confessed that he had taken performance-enhancing drugs, it was not just a case of doping in sports; it also destroyed the faith of many followers in him.

The danger here is that just as the good deeds of celebrities easily influence fans and the gullible, their bad deeds take even deeper roots in the common man.

When celebrities endorse products that are harmful to health, such as nicotine, it becomes difficult for impressionable minds to resist that influence.

The concern extends far beyond one celebrity. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco kills more than 7 million people every year, while over 1.6 million non-smokers die annually due to exposure to second-hand smoke. WHO also states that there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco and that nicotine is highly addictive, particularly for children and adolescents whose brains are still developing.

The influence of celebrity endorsements is also well documented. WHO warns that celebrity and influencer endorsements can make tobacco and nicotine products appear more attractive and acceptable to young audiences. It also notes that exposure to tobacco promotion in entertainment media increases the likelihood that children and adolescents will intend to use these products.

Shah Rukh Khan has faced multiple legal complaints and show-cause notices over his surrogate advertising of tobacco and pan masala products, including notices issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) following proceedings before the Allahabad High Court. Given his immense success and wealth, it is fair to ask: does someone of his stature really need to endorse products that have been criticized for their potential harm to public health?

When someone with enormous influence endorses products that can normalize harmful habits, the social cost may far outweigh the commercial benefit. It is difficult to argue that these endorsements are driven by financial necessity.

In my opinion, such cases should indeed be pursued against those who choose to endorse these campaigns.

For the sake of money, some forget the responsibility they owe their fans. The pursuit of profit often outweighs the consequences of such endorsements.

Responsibility is not only about avoiding harm. It is also about using influence for good.

Keanu Reeves proves that it is possible for someone who is famous to still be humble. Although Keanu Reeves is one of the most successful actors in Hollywood, he is known for donating to children’s hospitals, sharing part of his income with the film crew, and earning respect for his humane treatment of everyone. What makes his good deeds stand out is the fact that he never tries to draw attention to them.

Using Fame for Good

Voices that can influence millions should volunteer to speak for a greener tomorrow. It is not just for the benefit of the common people but also for their future generations.

Simple advice on civic sense can bring an evident change in the way we treat public spaces and our surroundings.

Fame Is a Privilege

Ultimately, all these responsibilities stem from one simple truth.
You asked for fame, but it comes with responsibilities too.

With great fame comes great responsibility.

You asked for fame. You got it. Now fulfil the role you are obliged to play in society.

At the very least, do not promote harmful habits.

Many fans are more likely to follow their idols than heed the warnings printed on the packaging.

As I think back to that bedridden teenager crying over Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup exit, I am reminded that celebrities mean far more to some people than they may ever realize. To many, they are a source of hope, strength, escape, and inspiration during life’s darkest moments.
Perhaps that is the greatest responsibility fame brings—not just to entertain millions, but to influence them in a way that leaves them better than before.

Fame is a privilege, but responsibility is its price.