Rocking Star Yash has become the first Kannada actor to appear on veteran journalist Rajat Sharma's long-running television show Aap Ki Adalat, and the promos from the episode have already sparked conversation online. While the special episode traces his rise from television actor to one of Indian cinema's biggest stars, it is Yash's candid remarks about Shah Rukh Khan, success and staying grounded that have caught the audience's attention.
One of the highlights of the episode is a conversation about the 2018 box office clash between KGF: Chapter 1 and Shah Rukh Khan's Zero. Looking back at that phase, Yash dismissed the idea of seeing it as a battle between two stars and instead spoke about the admiration he has always had for Shah Rukh.
"I am still a Shah Rukh Khan fan. At that time, our film was very small, while Shah Rukh sir's film was mounted on a huge scale. Even then, we decided to release our film during the same period," Yash said.
KGF: Chapter 1 eventually emerged as one of the biggest successes of the year and changed the landscape of Kannada cinema across India. But Yash said the film's success never made him feel bigger than the actors he grew up watching.
"He is a true superstar. The day I begin to think that I am bigger than my seniors is the day my story ends," he said, underlining that respect for senior artistes is something he will never compromise on.
The promos also feature Rajat Sharma praising Yash's screen presence, describing him as an actor who does not merely appear on screen but commands it with conviction. The episode is expected to revisit key moments from Yash's career, from his early days on Kannada television to the KGF phenomenon, while also touching upon his approach to filmmaking, the challenges behind his success and stories from the sets of his films.
The actor's comments have struck a chord because they come at a time when conversations around stardom are often reduced to opening-day numbers and box office records. Without delving much into collections or comparisons, Yash chose to speak about gratitude. By calling Shah Rukh Khan a "true superstar" and saying success should never come before respect for those who came before him, he mentioned perhaps the most memorable line from his first appearance on Aap Ki Adalat.
The actor has little time to pause. With Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups being set to hit theatres on August 26 and Ramayana marking his Bollywood debut as Ravana, Yash is entering one of the busiest phases of his career.