Shah rukh Khan brought new life to the play area at a mall in Noida by ramp walking with kids and encouraging them to pursue careers they find interesting. Shifa Naseer reports
learn while you play has been the sole purpose of many game areas, kindergarten schools and many clubs but have you come across a concept of getting to know what you want to be when you grow up though role playingIJ The new game area at Noida, actor Shah Rukh Khan’s brainchild is designed to engage kids in a way so as to help them chart a way through life and get them to try various activities.
We came to know from the actor that he initially wanted to build a play zone for Aryan and Suhana when they were kids. “It took six years to build one and by that time they had outgrown that phase. Now I wish AbRam, my youngest, to benefit from it along with all the kids,” he smiled, dimples and all.
The actor’s modesty is well known for but we could not help but notice the satisfaction in his voice at the launch event. He claimed that the play zone was one of the biggest achievements of his life. And we believe him. “This is not business for me. Really. It is an attempt to take entertainment for kids to a whole new level. There have been many such play zones for kids so far across the world and I thank every one of you for being here today,” he said.
Even the kids could not get enough of him, and the place. Pretending to be a journalist, Aryan asked what Shah Rukh would have been if not an actor, to which the star smiled and replied, “I would have joined the army,” he said, reminding us of him in Fauji. Dressed in a police uniform, Kanav said, “I think it is a very good place for kids to decide their professions when they grow old. As for me, I want to be a police officer.”
Shah Rukh recalled that when he was growing up he, and many like him, did not have a goo environment for educational environment. “They were my childhood memories and I am pleased and glad to see so much of development and progress that play zones have brought about.
Stretched across one lakh sqft and capital heavy space, the entry ticket cost is at present is Rs600.