Bollywood has fans all over the world, but it’s not often that a senior international politician openly talks about his love for it. Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has done just that, sharing that he is a big admirer of Shah Rukh Khan.
During a candid conversation on the Indian Link podcast with host Pawan Luthra, Burke didn’t hold back his excitement. He got straight to the point, saying, “I am a big Shah Rukh Khan fan, so let me start with that.”
Tony Burke’s Love For Bollywood
His love for Bollywood goes beyond just one star. Burke also spoke about the music of A. R. Rahman, revealing that the Oscar-winning composer’s work is among his favourites.
When it comes to films, Burke has quite a list of favourites. He shared that Chak De! India holds a special place in his heart, particularly because parts of the film were shot in Australian cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
The conversation took a lighter turn when Burke was asked whether he supported India or Australia during the climactic hockey match in the film. Laughing, he responded, “No, no, no although I did cheer for India in Lagaan.”
Burke also praised Jodhaa Akbar, starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. He described it as “a beautiful epic” and “a phenomenal film.”
But if there is one film that stands above the rest for him, it is Om Shanti Om. Directed by Farah Khan and marking the debut of Deepika Padukone, the film clearly left a lasting impression on Burke. He called it his “favourite film of all time.”
What truly stayed with him, however, is one iconic line from the film. Reflecting on its meaning, Burke recalled, “Simple happy endings… if it’s not happy, it’s not the end, the story is not over yet.” He added that the dialogue feels especially relevant today.
Olivia Sarkar is a Senior Content Producer on the Entertainment and Lifestyle desk with 6 years of experience. In 6 years, she worked with ANI, IANS, Zee News. Known for covering trends and engaging storytelling, she covers a wide spectrum of topics including entertainment news, fashion, fitness, health, food, travel, astrology. From major film announcements to industry controversies. Throughout her career, she has interviewed several notable personalities such as Femina Miss India World 2022 Sini Shetty, Miss World 2024 USA contestant Victoria DiSorbo, Miss France 2020 Clémence Botino.Her interview portfolio also includes celebrities like Milind Soman, Tiger Shroff, and Vikrant Massey, along with acclaimed singers Shubha Mudgal and Padma Shri awardee Dr. Jaspinder Narula. Beyond work, Olivia enjoys exploring new food joints, being wanderlust, and writing poetry. You can reach her out on X: @OliviaSarkar11
