In 2015, at the Asian Awards in London, Zayn Malik’s encounter with Shah Rukh Khan, alongside his sister Doniya, became a viral sensation. Initially perceiving Khan as “slightly arrogant” from his films, Zayn admitted the meeting revealed the actor’s humility, transforming him into a “huge fan.”

When Zayn Malik thought Shah Rukh Khan is ‘arrogant’, said, “when I met SRK real life…

Back in 2015, when the Asian Awards were held in London, a memorable crossover moment between East and West unfolded. Global pop sensation Zayn Malik met Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, along with his sister Doniya Malik. What followed was not only a viral moment but a shift in perception for Zayn, who admitted that the encounter reshaped his view of the actor.

In an interview with Elle India, Zayn candidly shared, “I personally wasn’t a huge fan until I met him. I realised how humble he is. Really showed a different side to him.” He elaborated further, “He always came across as slightly arrogant in the movies to me but when I met him in real life, he was so nice. He just completely changed my opinion of him.”

Zayn’s admiration didn’t stop there. He even went on to praise Bollywood, calling it “impeccable.” He said, “If you ever get a chance to watch a good Bollywood movie, watch Devdas! Have you seen Devdas? It’s got Shah Rukh Khan in it. You know who Shah Rukh Khan is?”—a quote that perfectly reflects how impressed he was after their meeting.

After the event, Shah Rukh Khan also shared a black-and-white selfie with Zayn on Twitter and affectionately captioned it, “This kid is so cool. May Allah bless him. Dinner time at the Asian Awards.” That image quickly went viral and became the most retweeted picture in India that year.

Zayn’s sister Doniya joined in the social media celebration by posting a collage of pictures and humorously captioned it, “Just thou I would make a collage and repost as insta was looking a bit messy! #OCDIstaProblem lol x Shahrukh Khan selfies game strong.”

This brief but impactful meeting not only generated headlines but also highlighted the cultural bridge Bollywood continues to build globally. Shah Rukh Khan’s charm clearly left an indelible impression on Zayn and his family.

Meanwhile, on the professional front, Shah Rukh Khan is set to return in Sujoy Ghosh’s upcoming thriller King, which is currently under production and slated for a 2025 release. The film also stars Suhana Khan and Abhishek Bachchan, with the latter playing the antagonist. As always, fans worldwide are eagerly awaiting King Khan’s next cinematic outing.