Shaukat Shaikh on his relationship with Farah Khan: She is like a sister to me

Real estate tycoon Shaukat Shaikh says that there are very few people in his world who support each other unconditionally, and one such person is filmmaker-choreographer Farah Khan. Shaukat, who only deals with celebrities when it comes to selling his real estate properties, says that she is always recommending him to her friends in the industry, and her compassion is unparalleled.

“I am close to many celebrities such as Hrithik Roshan and Rakesh Roshan as well as Farah Khan. Hrithik and Rakesh are like family to me; they live right next to my house. Farah Khan is like a sister to me; she showers me with love and strong support in the Bollywood industry, which is truly rare. I’m grateful for her respect. I haven’t achieved anything in my life without her help. Every call from her is about offering assistance, and I’m always a bit anxious that my good fortune might attract the evil eye. I deeply respect and love her for the genuine support she provides without any ulterior motives.”

Talking about how Farah always supports him, he says, “Recently, when Rajkumar Hirani was looking for a house, she immediately called me. I’m currently in transactions with Rajkumar Hirani and Malaika Arora. It’s unbelievable how Farah connects me with people without expecting anything in return. It’s a heartfelt connection, perhaps from a previous life, characterised by immense respect. It’s a relationship I hold dear, and I greatly appreciate the kindness and support from such a wonderful person.”

Ask him if it is easy to deal with celebrities, and he says, “I prefer dealing only with celebrities; I find it best. Besides them, I don’t want to have any dealings in real estate. I’ve named my company Solution Hospitality because I want to provide services in the hospitality sector, helping people with land acquisitions. I aim to build relationships with these celebrities to offer construction opportunities to my local brothers in Lonavala who have studied engineering. I want to provide employment to them, whether it’s gardening or any other work.”

Talking about how he supports his workers, he says, “I assist those in need, providing opportunities for employment. Along with my social work, I’ve set up a large office in Khandala with the tagline ‘Muffat Upchar Seva,’ entirely funded by me. The focus is on offering services, providing jobs, and conducting free surgeries and operations. During shoots, people approach me, and there’s no commission or hidden fees – just good intentions and local educated youth working with me.”

He adds, “I’ve facilitated numerous free surgeries using funds generated from my business. When there’s a need, I arrange transportation, meals, and even take care of the salaries of the young individuals working in my office during such social activities. I’m happy to help those who can’t afford fees or are struggling outside the office, understanding their needs and providing assistance.”