‘Jab tak main Ratan Tata ya Shah Rukh Khan nahi banunga…’: Expert reflects on Akshaye Khanna’s argument to choose quality work over stardom

Akshaye Khanna has been garnering immense praise for his performance in Dhurandhar, and the admiration isn’t just for his craft—netizens have fallen in love with his humility, too. As many of his older interviews resurface online, one particular video has sparked conversations on self-worth, stardom, and the pressure to stay relevant in an industry driven by visibility. In it, Khanna argues that success should never be measured by comparison or fame, but by the quality of one’s work.

He said, “Samjho mai ek businessman hun aur mera 500 crore ka business hai… jab tak mai Ratan Tata ya Shah Rukh Khan nahi banunga, kya main successful nahi hoon? Humare 120 crore ki abaadi mein 15–20 ko mauka milta hai leading man banne ka… aur mujhe 16–17 saal tak kaam mil raha hai apne terms pe.”

Akshaye Khanna’s emphasis on self-defined success raises an important question: Is such authenticity sustainable in a world where only the ‘fittest’ seem to survive? We explore this topic with insights from Dr S. Marceline (MA in Public Administration, MSc in Psychology, PhD in Public Administration), Professor at the School of Liberal and Creative Arts, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, who breaks down the psychology behind comparison, relevance, and identity.

Dr Marceline explains that comparing ourselves with “outliers”—such as top industrialists or megastars—can severely erode self-worth. “We cannot compare our life with an Ambani or our beauty with a Sushmita Sen,” she says. “Younger generations especially fall into this trap, moving farther away from who they truly are.” Such comparisons fuel inadequacy, anxiety and even depressive symptoms.

Instead, Dr Marceline emphasises the healthiest benchmark: compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to those who operate on a completely different level.

In the interview, Akshaye Khanna also emphasised the importance of avoiding public interactions for his sanity. He said, “Agar mujhe koi bolta hai ki controversies, parties, interviews hi zinda rakhengi… main bolunga, main out ho jaaunga par apne aap ko nahi badlunga.”

But is this practical? According to Dr Marceline, maintaining authenticity in the limelight comes with immense psychological pressure.

“Once someone enters the limelight, the challenge isn’t increasing fame—it’s maintaining it,” she notes. Celebrities set a benchmark that is difficult to surpass. Emotional burnout, people-pleasing fatigue and role strain are all common consequences, she adds.

She stresses, “The importance of identity clarity—knowing ‘Who am I?’ beyond the roles, applause or expectations. Clear personal boundaries help public figures protect their mental well-being and stay grounded in the midst of noise.”

Dr Marceline calls it a “psychological struggle” but not an impossible one. The key is continuous self-improvement without losing oneself, she says, “Just as a teacher updates herself to support her students, celebrities must keep refining their craft,” she notes. “But while doing so, their identity should stay rooted in who they are.”

Here’s what needs to be done to cultivate internal validation, Dr Marceline stresses.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to.