In a moment that felt lifted straight from a feel-good Bollywood script, Australia’s most senior Home Affairs minister sat across from a podcast host and confessed — without hesitation — that he is a “massive Shah Rukh Khan fan.” And not just that. He named Om Shanti Om (2007) not merely as his favourite Bollywood film, but as his favourite film of all time.
Tony Burke, currently serving as Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs, Immigration, Citizenship, Cyber Security, and the Arts under the Albanese Labor Government, made the revelation during a candid interview on the Indian Link podcast, hosted by Indian Link CEO Pawan Luthra. The clip quickly went viral — because when one of the most powerful cabinet ministers in Australia tells the world that Shah Rukh Khan made his favourite film ever, even non-Bollywood fans pay attention.
What Exactly Did Tony Burke Say About Shah Rukh Khan?
When Pawan Luthra asked Burke about his favourite Bollywood films, his opening line set the tone immediately: “I am a massive Shah Rukh Khan fan, so let me start with that. And I love A.R. Rahman’s soundtracks as well.”
He then walked through three films — each chosen for a distinct personal reason — before landing on the one that clearly means the most to him.
Burke said: “The last one I want to mention isn’t just my favourite Bollywood film, it’s in fact my favourite film of all time, which is Om Shanti Om.”
He also spoke about a specific dialogue from the film that has stayed with him — one that he finds particularly resonant in today’s geopolitical climate. Burke said there is a line that is used twice in the film which he considers “one of the most simple and beautiful lines” — and that line is SRK’s: “If it’s not happy, it’s not the end, the story is not over yet.” He added that the dialogue’s significance feels especially powerful “because the world is in such a difficult place.”
That is not casual fan commentary. That is a senior government official drawing philosophical comfort from a 2007 Bollywood reincarnation drama — and meaning every word of it.
Which Three Bollywood Films Did Tony Burke Name as His Favourites?
Burke did not give a vague, diplomatic answer. He came prepared with a list — specific films, specific reasons. Here is his full three-film selection:
1. Chak De! India (2007) — For the Australian connection
Burke picked Chak De! India because a large part of the film was shot in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane — giving it a personal local connection that resonated with him.
When Luthra jokingly asked whether Burke had cheered for India when India defeated Australia in the film’s climax, the minister replied: “No, no, although I did cheer for India in Lagaan. But while watching Chak De! India, I was still going for Australia.” A politician till the end.
2. Lagaan (2001) — The one that made him cheer for India
His mention of Lagaan (directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, produced by and starring Aamir Khan) as a film that genuinely made him root for India against the British colonisers in a cricket match is a small detail that speaks volumes about the film’s storytelling power. Lagaan was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2002 — one of only three Indian films ever to receive that nomination.
3. Om Shanti Om (2007) — His all-time favourite film, full stop
No qualifiers. No “for a Bollywood film.” His absolute, cross-genre, all-time favourite film. A distinction that carries more weight than any press endorsement a studio could engineer.
Who Is Tony Burke? Why Does This Moment Matter Beyond the Fan Confession?
Understanding who Tony Burke is adds an entirely different dimension to this moment.
Anthony Stephen Burke, born on 4 November 1969, is an Australian politician serving as Minister for Home Affairs, Immigration and Citizenship, Cyber Security, and the Arts — a member of the Labor Party who has represented Watson in the Australian House of Representatives since 2004.
He is a graduate of the University of Sydney, and worked as a political staffer, company director, and union organiser before entering federal politics. He previously served in cabinet during both the Rudd and Gillard Labor governments (2007–2013), and returned to cabinet when Labor won the 2022 federal election under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Following the 2025 federal election, it was announced that Burke would retain both the Arts and Home Affairs portfolios, and also take responsibility for the Australian Federal Police and ASIO.
This is not a fringe political figure. He is among the most senior ministers in the current Australian government — and his portfolios include immigration and multicultural affairs, which means his relationship with and respect for India’s cultural output is not merely personal. It is also politically and diplomatically meaningful.
The Indian diaspora is one of Australia’s fastest-growing and most influential communities. For decades, Shah Rukh Khan has occupied a rare space in global entertainment where his films do not just travel but linger in public memory. A minister whose jurisdiction includes multicultural affairs expressing genuine, specific, enthusiastic love for SRK’s cinema is the kind of authentic cultural diplomacy that no press release could manufacture.
What Is Om Shanti Om? Why Is It Such a Significant Choice?
For the uninitiated — and for those who just want to revisit why this film is so enduring — here is what makes Om Shanti Om the specific kind of film that a global politician would call his all-time favourite.
Om Shanti Om is a 2007 Indian Hindi-language masala film written and directed by Farah Khan, co-written by Mayur Puri and Mushtaq Shiekh, and produced by Gauri Khan under Red Chillies Entertainment. The film stars Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone (in her Hindi film debut), Arjun Rampal, Shreyas Talpade, and Kirron Kher.
In the film, Om Prakash Makhija (Khan), an obscure 1970s actor, dies in a suspicious on-set fire and is reincarnated 30 years later, determined to punish the person who ignited the blaze.
The film is many things at once — a love story, a revenge thriller, a loving spoof of 1970s Bollywood cinema, a showcase for one of Shah Rukh Khan’s most physically committed performances, and a dazzling debut stage for Deepika Padukone. Its soundtrack by Vishal-Shekhar with lyrics by Javed Akhtar produced songs like Dard-E-Disco, Dhoom Taana, and Deewangi Deewangi — which featured 31 Bollywood stars in a single song sequence, shot over six days.
As Rotten Tomatoes’ critical consensus puts it: Farah Khan blends reincarnation, melodrama, humour, and nostalgia with infectious energy, creating a film that celebrates the magic of movies while embracing their madness. The songs are iconic, the visuals glamorous, and the self-aware storytelling both playful and emotional.
What Is the Iconic Dialogue That Tony Burke Specifically Quoted?
Burke was not merely invoking the title. He quoted a specific line — one that is arguably the most philosophically lasting piece of writing in the entire film.
As confirmed by IMDb’s quotes page for Om Shanti Om: “Life is like a film, it always has a happy ending and if it’s not happy then it’s not yet the end.”
Farah Khan used two particular dialogues in the film that she felt reflected her personal philosophy: “When you want something badly, the whole universe conspires to give it to you” and “In the end everything will be ok and if it’s not ok it’s not the end.”
Burke’s choice to cite this specific line — and connect it directly to the state of the world in 2026 — is the detail that elevates the entire interaction from a celebrity fan moment to something more quietly meaningful. An Australian minister overseeing immigration, cybersecurity, and the arts in a turbulent geopolitical era, finding solace in a Bollywood film’s optimistic worldview: that is genuinely human. And in 2026, genuinely human moments in politics are rarer than they should be.
Is Tony Burke the First International Politician to Declare Love for Shah Rukh Khan?
Far from it — and that pattern itself tells a story about SRK’s extraordinary global reach.
Shah Rukh Khan is widely considered the most globally recognised Indian entertainer alive. His fanbase spans over 100 countries. He has been invited to meet world leaders, has received honorary doctorates from universities including the University of Edinburgh and the University of Bedfordshire, and was named one of the most influential people in Asia by TIME magazine. His 2023 comeback — with Pathaan, Jawan, and Dunki — grossed over ₹2,500 crore combined, reasserting his box office dominance after a four-year absence from screens.
What is slightly unusual about Tony Burke’s declaration is its specificity and sincerity. Most political fan moments are curated for an audience. Burke’s — happening in a podcast interview, with a specific film, a specific dialogue, and a specific emotional reason for loving that dialogue — feels entirely unscripted. That is the difference between a political photo opportunity and an actual fan speaking.
What Did the Bollywood and Indian Community Make of Tony Burke’s Revelation?
The reaction was immediate and warm. The clip of Burke’s statement spread rapidly across Indian social media platforms, with fans sharing it with captions ranging from delighted surprise to affectionate pride.
Burke’s choice of Om Shanti Om feels especially telling because it points to one of Khan’s most flamboyant, self-aware, and emotionally accessible crowd-pleasers. It is not the choice of someone performing knowledge of Bollywood. It is the choice of someone who genuinely watched and felt the film.
For India’s diaspora community in Australia — which numbers well over half a million people and continues to grow rapidly — the moment carried additional significance. Having a minister of Burke’s stature express genuine love for their cinema, in specific terms, in a public forum, feels like cultural recognition of a different order than policy acknowledgements ever could.
What Is Shah Rukh Khan Working on Next?
Shah Rukh Khan’s confirmed upcoming theatrical release is King, scheduled for December 24, 2026. The film has already generated strong curiosity as his next major big-screen move after the remarkable 2023 run, and its casting has added to the anticipation.
Given the buzz around King and the fact that his 2023 triple release redefined what a commercial Hindi film comeback could look like, the momentum around SRK as a global cinema force is stronger than it has been in years. Tony Burke’s endorsement — however unexpected — is simply the latest chapter in a story that shows no sign of a conclusion.
And as Shah Rukh Khan himself once said in Om Shanti Om: if it’s not happy, it’s not the end. The story is not over yet.
Quick Facts: Tony Burke’s Bollywood Favourites
| Rank | Film | Year | Director | Personal Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Om Shanti Om | 2007 | Farah Khan | All-time favourite film, loves the “not the end” dialogue |
| 2 | Chak De! India | 2007 | Shimit Amin | Shot in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane |
| 3 | Lagaan | 2001 | Ashutosh Gowariker | Made him cheer for India against the British |
Sources: Box Office Worldwide · Bollywood Bubble · The Print · Wikipedia – Tony Burke · Wikipedia – Om Shanti Om · IMDb – Om Shanti Om · IMDb – Om Shanti Om Quotes · Rotten Tomatoes – Om Shanti Om · Pinkvilla – Best OSO Dialogues · Indian Link Podcast – YouTube · Australian Government – Minister for Home Affairs
