Actor Shah Rukh Khan with American actor and wrestler John Cena during the wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Mumbai | Photo Credit: PTI
Former WWE champion and American actor John Cena says Shah Rukh Khan’s words got him through when he needed them the most. That’s why meeting the superstar in person at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding felt like the “perfect end” to a wonderful trip to India.
Cena has a special place in his heart for the Bollywood superstar and the country of India. He described his visit in July as an “unforgettable and wonderful” experience.
Cena was one of the international guests invited to the high-profile wedding of Anant, the youngest son of Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani, and his childhood friend Radhika, daughter of pharma baron Viren and Shaila Merchant.
“At the end of my stay, I was able to meet Shah Rukh Khan while returning. He is someone whose words – I could say this to him personally – got me at a time when I needed them (the most) in my life,” he told PTI. He also shared the moment with his ex-followers.
Cena, 47, said it was important to shake hands with Shah Rukh and share the positive impact the Indian actor has had on his life.
“And the best part is that he (SRK) couldn’t have been nicer, more empathetic, sharing and conversational. It was a truly amazing moment. It is unforgettable for me and it was the perfect end to an amazing journey,” he recalled.
This WWE wrestler turned actor will be seen next in a Prime Video film Jackpot! alongside Awkwafina and Simu Liu. Comedy drama directed by Paul Feig Bridesmaids Fame, is set to premiere on the streamer on August 15.
Cena is looking forward to the response to the film in India, a country he has visited before and where fans recognise him as WWE is very popular here even though it is “very far away” from the US.
“I came to India in 2006 and then I performed there recently last year, which was a lot of fun. This was the first time I performed there. My continued awareness and recognition of India is just a way of saying thank you for the support.” Photos and videos of Cena dancing to the beats of dhols ahead of the Ambani-Merchant wedding were the talk of the town on social media last month when he was doing his famous “You Can’t See Me” gesture from his wrestling days.
He said, “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my fans in India as they are the driving force behind my relevance and popularity. I never want to take that for granted. I always try to give it the respect it deserves. This is a way for me to say thank you again and again.”
Cena, a record 16-time world champion in WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) and one of the most successful professional wrestlers of all time, hopes to get a chance to visit India again after he retires from the sport. He will officially retire next year.
“In 2025, I will start a retirement tour, which will hopefully be in India. My last WWE performance will be in December of 2025. So we will start in January and go till December.
He added, “I will continue to be in the WWE family as an ambassador and I am looking forward to that time as hopefully it will give me enough time to work on the ground in India and shake hands with the fans there while watching the young performers put their best foot forward in the ring. I am really excited for the future and of course excited to close the chapter of my performance in WWE.”
Over the years, Cena has successfully built a career in Hollywood and has worked in films like ‘Dabangg’, … Blockers, Bumblebee, F9, The Suicide Squad, Fast X And Ricky Stanicky.
In “Jackpot!”, the actor gets a chance to showcase his comedic chops as a security agent who teams up with Awkwafina’s character, Katie, a struggling new actress in California in the near future. After Katie wins the lottery, the public is after her life, as a rule allows the person who kills her to claim all the winnings.
Cena said that he chose this film because its script and the people associated with the story were very good.
Would he like a sequel? Jackpot!? “I would love to work with the gang again. But first and foremost, I want the fans to watch it and be entertained. I would always love to make a sequel. But unfortunately, it’s not in my control. It depends on our audience. So, I hope the audience in India will love it.” Jackpot!,
The film also stars Ayden Mayeri and Donald Ellis Watkins.
