Shah Rukh Khan recently celebrated a watershed moment in his decades-long career his first-ever National Film Award for Best Actor for Jawan. When Shashi Tharoor, known for his elaborate English, congratulated him saying, “A National Treasure wins a National Award! Congratulations @iamsrk!”, Khan replied with trademark humour. He quipped, “Thank u for the simple praise Mr Tharoor… would not have understood something more magniloquent and sesquipedalian… ha ha.”

Thank u for the simple praise Mr Tharoor…
would not have understood something more magniloquent and sesquipedalian… ha ha https://t.co/GHAhyCYT5S

— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 3, 2025

Tharoor’s original message was simple yet appreciative, while SRK’s response elevated the exchange by playfully referencing those very high‑flown words. His use of sesquipedalian a term meaning using long words was delivered with such charm it quickly went viral online.

Fans and followers were delighted by the banter, with many praising his witty turn into Tharoor-style diction. As one remarked, “When the Badshah drops magniloquent and sesquipedalian in one breath, even dictionaries blush.” Beyond the fun, the episode sparked renewed admiration for Tharoor’s linguistic flair as well as SRK’s effortless flair for humour. Despite winning his first National Award only now, the actor seems to have savoured the moment even more through this clever interaction.

In a broader sense, the exchange underscored how language and humility can mingle beautifully. Shah Rukh’s tongue-in-cheek line shows that even legendary performers can laugh at pompous vocabulary while still tipping their hat to it. Sesquipedalian may be a mouthful, but in this case, it was a perfect punchline.