Shah Rukh Khan charms Yale crowd

Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan enthralled the students of Yale University as he came to the Ivy League institution as a Chubb Fellow, one of its top honours.

A crowd gathered outside the Shubert Theatre early in the afternoon and as the day went on the line snaked around the corner.

Khan's fans travelled from Alabama and California to join with members of the New Haven and Yale community to hear him speak to a capacity audience of about 1,700.

He charmed the crowd with his experiences and about his success and failure and how to live life to the fullest. He encouraged young people to find fulfilment in creativity, to learn to laugh at themselves and to never become cynical about their lives.

"Failure is a fiendish friend that can lead to success by teaching one to be pragmatic, to work harder, and to be true to oneself," he said.

He further added that the true strength of one's friendships is tested in the face of strong adversity.

He emphasised the importance of young people appreciating and cherishing their parents' love. "Whatever you do, whichever mistakes you make, your parents are your best friends."

Khan danced his signature 'Chammak Challo' moves with Yale student Natalia Khosla, that left the crowd mesmerized. "This is the most fun I have had in months!" Khan said.

Yale student Isha Ambani, who is president of the South Asian Society at Yale, introduced Khan and participated in a conversation onstage with Jeffrey Brenzel, Yale dean of undergraduate admissions and master of Timothy Dwight College, the Yale residential college that administers the Chubb Fellowship; Yale College alumna Sarika Arya; and Yale Law School student Nihkil Sud.

As part of the Yale Chubb Fellowship, Khan attended a reception and dinner at Timothy Dwight College with over 120 Yale students including members of the South Asian Society at Yale, fellows of Timothy Dwight, and other members of the Yale community.

Each year three or four distinguished men and women have been appointed as visiting Chubb Fellows. Former Chubb Fellows include presidents George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, and Jimmy Carter; authors Octavio Paz, Carlos Fuentes, and Toni Morrison; filmmaker Sofia Coppola; architect Frank Gehry; choreographer Mikhail Baryshnikov; and journalist Walter Cronkite.