Suhana Khan recalls being ‘so upset and disappointed’ after a failed school audition, ‘I cried alone in my room’

Suhana Khan, daughter of Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan, may have been born into one of Bollywood’s most celebrated families, but her decision to become an actor came from a moment of rejection rather than privilege. In a new interview with Harper’s Bazaar India, Suhana revealed that it was a failed audition during her school days that made her realise how deeply she wanted to act.

‘I was so upset and disappointed’

Recalling her time at Ardingly College in the UK, Suhana shared that she auditioned for a school play and was keen on landing a particular role. When the cast list was announced, she found herself placed in the chorus instead. The setback hit her harder than she had anticipated.“I was so upset and disappointed. And I think that’s when I knew that I really wanted to play those parts and enjoy the thrill of being on stage,” she said.

Suhana admitted she cried alone in her room, taken aback by how emotionally invested she was. That moment of rejection, she realised, was proof that acting wasn’t just something expected of her—it was something she genuinely wanted.Suhana also acknowledged that she wasn’t initially interested in acting and even felt nudged toward it at one point. Growing up in a film family meant the spotlight was always present, but it was that personal moment of disappointment that shifted her perspective and helped her understand her own passion for the craft.

‘Curiosity, purpose, but most of all, passion’

Speaking about what drives her today, Suhana said her approach to acting is guided by “Curiosity, purpose, but most of all, passion. It’s all of it.” She believes that emotional honesty and a willingness to learn are what keep her grounded as she navigates the early stages of her career.

After completing her schooling in the UK, Suhana went on to study acting at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She made her debut with Zoya Akhtar’s The Archies in 2023 and is now preparing for her theatrical debut in the action-thriller King, where she will be seen alongside her father, Shah Rukh Khan, reportedly playing a protégé to his dark assassin character. For Suhana, the journey matters more than the destination. She says the experience of making a project stays with her longer than its outcome. With King on the horizon, she appears focused on growth, learning, and letting her career unfold naturally.