Shah Rukh Khan's Interstellar Moment Is Here, Thanks To Shubhanshu Shukla's Playlist
The song, composed by A.R. Rahman and penned by Javed Akhtar, played in Shubhanshu Shukla's ears as he piloted the NASA-backed Axiom 4 mission.
When Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla blasted off into space, his launch playlist featured a track that resonated far beyond the cockpit: 'Yun Hi Chala Chal" from Shah Rukh Khan's 2004 film 'Swades'. The song, composed by A.R. Rahman and penned by Javed Akhtar, played in Shubhanshu Shukla's ears as he piloted the NASA-backed Axiom 4 mission aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft- marking the first time in 41 years that an Indian traveled to space since Rakesh Sharma's mission in 1984.
In Swades, Shah Rukh Khan plays a NASA scientist who returns to India in search of belonging. For Shubhanshu Shukla, the connection felt personal as the film's quiet anthem of forward motion mirrored his own path from Indian Air Force pilot to astronaut, now carrying the tricolour into orbit.
'This is not just the start of my journey to the ISS, but also of India's human spaceflight," Shubhanshu Shukla said in a message from space, adding, 'Let us embark on this journey together."
What Were Other Astronauts Listening To?
The other astronauts aboard the Axiom 4 mission also brought personal soundtracks to the launch. Mission commander Peggy Whitson, a veteran American astronaut, chose 'Thunder" by Imagine Dragons. Polish astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski went with 'Supermoce", a high-energy collaboration by Igo, Mrozu and Vito Bambino. Hungary's Tibor Kapu picked 'Búvóhely" by Quimby, a moody, atmospheric track.
Axiom 4 Mission
After multiple delays, the Axiom 4 mission finally launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. All four astronauts- representing India, Hungary, and Poland- lifted off aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, marking a significant moment for international spaceflight.
Shubhanshu Shukla addressed the nation moments after reaching orbit saying, 'Namaskar, my dear countrymen; we have reached space after 41 years. It was a great ride. We are orbiting Earth at a speed of 7.5 km per second. I have the Indian tricolour on my shoulders. It tells me I am with you all."
First Published:
June 25, 2025, 16:04 IST
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