New Delhi, April 16 (PTI): Shah Rukh Khan has said there is "no patriot greater than me", adding that at times he felt "very sad" and "like crying" when he was asked to prove his patriotism.
"Sometimes I feel very sad, I even feel like crying, that I should be made to say that I belong to this country, I am a patriot. I am a patriot, rather we all are. We do not have to compete with others to say we are patriots," the star told Rajat Sharma on the India TV show, Aap Ki Adalat.
"I get very sad when I am supposed to explain each and every time how good a patriot I am."
The 50-year-old actor said his message to youngsters would be to be tolerant and work towards taking the nation forward as petty matters should not harm the country's interests.
"Whether my film, Fan, is a hit or not, I want to say for the last time, I will not repeat it again that there is no patriot greater than me."
Asked about a perception that he had friends in the Congress who wanted to "fix" the Prime Minister, Shah Rukh said: "How dare I fix anyone? You have known me long. I am apolitical, though I have friends everywhere."
Last year, the actor had got sucked into a controversy for saying there was growing intolerance in the country. He clarified on the show that his remarks had been taken out of context.
"I had only advised the young to not be intolerant in matters related to religion, caste, colour, creed and region. My father was one of the youngest freedom-fighters. How can I think that this country has not been fair to any of us? A man like me who has got everything from this country, I will be the last one to complain.
"My family itself is mini-India. My wife is Hindu, I am Muslim by birth and my three children follow three religions, so how can I think of my country like this?"
The actor, whose performance in Fan has been appreciated, claimed he left it to the producer to decide how much he would be paid. "I never take money for acting in films. I only charge fees for endorsements, for events and live shows. I tell producers to pay me whatever they wish, if the films do well at the box office."
Reminded by the TV anchor that 22 years ago he had claimed he was a better actor than Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh attributed it to the arrogance of youth. "That was my overconfidence as a youth. Twenty-two years later, I have now realised that I had no idea what makes a great actor. That was because of lack of education. My arrogance was sheer childishness. Even now, at the age of 50, I sometimes appear to be childish," he said.
