shah rukh khan biography in english

Meet Shah Rukh Khan: If you haven’t heard of the Bollywood superstar, it’s about time you did

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If you haven’t already heard of Shah Rukh Khan — First, where have you been? Second, why?! — it’s beyond time to get to know the Bollywood megastar.

When he isn’t dominating headlines in South Asia or trending all over news aggregation apps, the 57-year-old Indian icon is cranking out big-budget, Hindi-language films. With his physical energy and magnetic charm, he’s been bolstering the billion-dollar movie business in Asia for years, including with two blockbusters this year: the action-packed “Pathaan” and the revenge thriller “Jawan.” The films mark his cinematic comeback after a four-year hiatus, and they’ve broken several box-office records of his own making.

“SRK is indeed one of the most iconic and popular Indian film stars ever,” said Rajkumar Akella, the managing director of Comscore Movies India, who is based in Hyderabad, India. “His appeal and cultural influence on India and Indian diaspora and even global audiences are far larger than the box office data can ever justify.”

‘Ra.One’: Shah Rukh Khan as Bollywood superhero

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links.

Nov. 4, 2011

To date, the actor has appeared in at least 109 titles — per IMDb — during his decades-long career. Reps for SRK couldn’t respond by the time of publication to The Times’ request for comment.

Here are some key facts to know about the influential cinema icon:

He goes by SRK

Sometimes you might see his named spelled Shahrukh Khan too, but he’s affectionately known as SRK to his fans and active social-media following. His many other nicknames include the regal “King Khan,” “Baadshah of Bollywood,” “King of Romance” and, occasionally, Bollywood’s “most important cultural export,” with his star power likened to that of Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks — combined.

The New Delhi-born entertainer grew up in the industrial west coast port city of Mangalore. He described himself on social media in 2010 as “half hyderabadi (mom), half pathan (Dad), some kashmiri (grandmom).”

i am half hyderabadi( mom ) half pathan( Dad)some kashmiri (grandmom) born in delhi life in mumbai punjabi wife kolkata team.indian at heart — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 20, 2010

Since we’re on the topic of fractions, SRK is one-third of the affectionately regarded “Bollywood Khan triumvirate” that also boasts Aamir Khan and Salman Khan , none of whom are related.

SRK succeeded influential Indian film star Amitabh Bachchan, who was known as the Angry Young Man of Indian Cinema during his reign over Indian theaters from 1973 until the turn of the century, Akella said. But what’s unique about SRK’s ascent to stardom is that he doesn’t hail from an influential film family. Instead, the Baadshah of Bollywood trod the more humbling boards of TV sound stages.

“I was driving down a small lane in India recently, and I remembered that 20 years ago I was driving down the same lane, and I had maybe $10 or $20 in my pocket,” he told The Times in 2011. “I couldn’t believe all that had happened to me. I feel lucky and even guilty to have this much.”

He might be the biggest movie star you’ve never heard of

As The Times put it in 2011 : SRK “is the biggest movie star you’ve never heard of.” But a lot has changed in the last decade, and if his movies aren’t baked into the American cinema-going DNA, they certainly are in South Asia.

The movie star arguably commands a larger fan following than any other working actor in the world, given India’s 1.4 billion population and its recent distinction as the world’s most populous country. However, Khan told CNN’s Fareed Zakaria in 2016 that half of his fans are from other places, presumably with many hailing from the Indian diaspora. Few, if any, actors have comparable popularity, domestically or abroad.

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Oct. 24, 2011

But first, a word about Indian cinema...

India is still the only market where Hollywood movies struggle to compete. And Khan remains its singing, dancing and gun-toting leading man.

Hollywood movies’ popularity and revenue in that market are indeed growing with each year, but their contribution to the overall Indian box office is only about 15%, according to Comscore. That means 85% of Indian box-office revenue comes from local content, mainly from Bollywood (the Hindi-language movie industry), and Telugu and Tamil cinema.

“In no other territory across the world Hollywood’s share is as low,” Akella said, noting that the Chinese market has only become harder to break into in recent years because the country has a quota system that is generating more revenue for local productions. “But in free markets, India has the highest share for local content,” he said.

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Indian cinema has been a mainstay of the global box office for years, said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore. And before the COVID-19 pandemic, Dergarabedian said in an interview this week, Indian films would just bubble under the top 10 global box-office films. In recent years, they’ve ascended into the top five.

“Indian cinema has had a profound impact not just in India but around the world,” he said. “And Khan is a global superstar, so for any fan of film or film buff, he should be on your radar.”

He got his start in TV and quickly became the King of Romance

SRK arrived in Mumbai — the metropolis formerly known as Bombay where Bollywood originated — in 1991. He made a meager salary on the Indian TV show “Fauji,” but landed his cinematic debut within a year in the commercial hit “Deewana,” playing a ruthless avenger.

His breakout role came in 1993 in the romantic thriller “Baazigar,” where he starred as an antihero for the first time. (His obsessive-lover character tries to persuade his girlfriend to commit suicide with him to avoid a forced marriage — then kills her!)

He further made a name for himself in the 1990s with the psychological thrillers “Darr” and “Anjaam,” and a series of romantic musicals, beginning with his 1995 sensation “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.”

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is again detained, this time at LAX

Aug. 12, 2016

On “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” — the title translates to “The Bravehearted Will Take the Bride” — he teamed with director Aditya Chopra and played a Lamborghini-driving London-based man who pursues his love back to India to win over her family. The film holds the record as the longest-playing movie in Indian film history and had an uninterrupted run in a single cinema for nearly 25 years.

That film, combined with the late-’90s romantic musicals “Dil To Pagal Hai,” “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” and the 2001 family drama “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham,” earned SRK the “King of Romance in Bollywood” moniker.

He also padded his film credits with the box-office disappointment “Swades” and the sports drama “Chak De! India.” However, he became better known to international audiences for his critically acclaimed turn as an alcoholic in the 2002 musical drama “Devdas” and for his role as an autistic man in the 2010 film “My Name Is Khan.” (His 2007 romantic musical “Om Shanti Om” made headlines this summer after going viral for its spot-on “Barbie” reference.”)

In 2011, his slick science-fiction movie “Ra.One” was touted as the most expensive Hindi film production in history with a budget estimated at $30 million. But the superhero flick only reached No. 11 on his top-grossing films list, according to Comscore.

He released the semi-hit “Raees” in 2017, followed by the 2018 dramedy “Zero,” in which he played a young man with dwarfism.

He has two huge films out this year and they’re breaking box-office records — fast

He went on a four-year hiatus that ended earlier this year with the release of his blockbuster “Pathaan.” In a February #AskSRK session for the film on the platform then known as Twitter, the actor explained that he took the break to sit at home and watch all the films that he could “to become an audience again and not be a movie maker.”

It seemed to work, because the two action thrillers are among his most successful. “Pathaan” nabbed the title of the biggest global opening ever for a Hindi-language film — only to be outdone earlier this month by “Jawan,” which earned $9.4 million in India and $15.6 million worldwide in its opening weekend, according to Variety .

In the Atlee Kumar-directed “Jawan,” SRK has two roles: a soldier named Azad and his father, Vikram, whom he believed to be dead. The action-packed political thriller has already earned about $101 million globally, as of Monday, and when it exceeds $122 million, Khan will make Indian cinematic history again as the only Indian actor to have two films (also released in the same year) that breached the lofty Indian rupees 1,000-crore mark.

Theories about his enormous success this year include his welcome homecoming to the big screen, with the public demonstrating its love for him by rewarding his films at the box office.

SRK’s appeal is enormous in India as a whole, but most of the revenue for his films comes from North India, where Hindi is the most widely spoken language. The five South Indian states account only for a small percentage of his revenue, Akella said, but that trend has shifted with the release of “Jawan.”

“Pathaan” has generated $80 million in India but only about $3 million of that comes from South-Indian-dubbed versions; 96% is from the Hindi version. “Jawan” marks the first time a Bollywood film’s southern-language dubbed versions have generated in excess of 10% of the $70 million it has earned so far.

SRK has two more films coming out this year, including a cameo in the Salman Khan-starring “Tiger 3,” which will be released for the Diwali holiday in November, and a lead role in the Rajkumar Hirani-directed “Dunki,” which is set for release at Christmas.

But he won’t do any Hollywood films

The superstar speaks Hindi, English, Urdu and Kannada, and his films are translated into even more languages. However, he’s expressed repeatedly that he’s not interested in crossing over to western cinema as Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone have done.

“My English is not good. If they give me a role of a dumb person who doesn’t speak, maybe then there’s a possibility,” he said when posed the question at the 2008 Berlin Film Festival.

“I am not trying to be modest,” he added, according to the Indian Express . “I am 42 years old. I am a little brown. I don’t have any [unique selling point] as an actor, I don’t have any specialty. I don’t know kung fu, I don’t dance salsa and I am not tall enough. … I have seen the recent European films, there is no place for me there, no space for me. I don’t think [I] am talented enough. Instead, I would like to continue working in India and take Indian cinema to the world.”

Khan, who holds five honorary doctorates , passed on appearing in the 2008 film “Slumdog Millionaire,” forfeiting the game-show host role to Anil Kapoor.

“It’s a very nice movie, but it’s not an Indian movie,” Khan said of Danny Boyle’s best picture Oscar winner. “We need a ‘Life Is Beautiful.’”

Meanwhile, he’s worth nearly $40 million

Khan is regularly listed among the 10 richest actors in the world, reportedly coming in fourth recently with a net worth of $38 million, according to figures from GQ India and Forbes . The actor has diversified his portfolio by launching a production house, purchasing the Indian Premier League cricket team Kolkata Knight Riders and locking in plenty of brand endorsements with Pepsi, Nokia and Tag Heuer.

The entertainer also invests heavily in real estate and owns properties in L.A., New York, London, Dubai, Mumbai and Alibaug, India.

He’s married with three kids

Khan is married to Hindu interior designer Gauri Khan , and candid images from their 1991 Hindu wedding festivities went viral on Reddit in July. They have three children: Aryan, 25, Suhana, 23, and AbRam, 9.

Aryan Khan landed the star in hot water last year after he was arrested on charges of drug possession , although the charges were eventually dropped due to lack of evidence. Not surprisingly, there was a huge outpouring of public sympathy for what the family had to endure.

U.S. airports humble his ego

Khan has maintained that the key to his fame is accessibility — but sometimes that doesn’t work in his favor. The actor has repeatedly been detained at U.S. airports while trying to enter the country.

In 2009, during the run-up to his film “My Name Is Khan,” the actor’s mistreatment at New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport elicited reprisals from government ministers and shocked headlines from Indian news media that couldn’t fathom SRK going unrecognized. However, some suggested that Khan had highlighted the incident as a publicity stunt for “My Name Is Khan,” which is in part about the discrimination Muslims faced in the United States after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

“I don’t mean to sound pompous,” the actor said at a two-hour Mumbai news conference after the incident, “but Shah Rukh Khan doesn’t need publicity. I am too big a star for that.

“Whenever I start feeling too arrogant about myself, I always take a trip to America,” he said. “The immigration guys kicked the star out of stardom.”

In 2012, he was detained again, this time at Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y., on his way to give a speech at Yale. And in 2016, he was again pulled aside at LAX while trying to enter the United States.

Secularism has mired him in controversy

“Religious intolerance and not being secular … is the worst kind of crime that you can do as a patriot,” he said in 2015, sparking much debate. The actor later clarified that his comments were misinterpreted and taken out of context.

But since he made the remarks about growing religious intolerance in India, the actor and his films have dealt with numerous attacks from right-wing Hindu groups. The attacks have grown more personal and concerted as of late, particularly around the releases of “Pathaan” and “Jawan.”

His popularity, and the popularity of any Indian film star, transcends generations and religions. Khan strives to appeal to his compatriots and families with his body of work.

That Khan is Muslim has been an issue for some Hindu nationalists who want to center his established image around his religious identity. However, he observes both Hindu and Islamic rituals at home and has publicly displayed as much.

The actor has also played more Hindu characters on screen than Muslim characters. Still, Hindu critics have called for boycotts of his films or demanded a ban on their release. “Pathaan” elicited such a response over its song “Besharam Rang,” which features his co-star Padukone in a saffron-colored bikini. Saffron is the color of the top band in the Indian flag and is associated with spirituality. Islamic groups have also complained about “Pathaan” over concerns about obscenity and religious misrepresentation. But fans keep supporting Khan, with some even lining up at 4:30 a.m. to see “Jawan,” which is on track to keep breaking box-office records in India.

The religious critics’ views were not majority opinions and clamor has gradually faded, with many theatergoers viewing the protests as unwarranted attacks against the actor that only amplified people’s affection for SRK.

Times multiplatform editor Rubaina Azhar contributed to this report.

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The Thoroughly Goofy, Undeniably Seductive, All-in-One Charm of Shah Rukh Khan

My favorite sequence in the 2007 Bollywood movie Om Shanti Om , a minor postmodern masterpiece from director Farah Khan, comes early in its nearly three-hour run time. It’s a song-and-dance number, and I’m hardly alone in my fondness for it. “ Dhoom Taana ” — which penetrated a wider consciousness in 2014, when the Indian American woman who would go on to win that year’s Miss America contest performed her version during the talent section — is a proper banger; its popularity is one reason the film set box-office records: melodically and lyrically catchy and mischievous; visually striking, with its stitched-together collage of old films; and, as a dance number, exuberant and elegantly athletic. But what makes this cheeky, pastiched homage to Bollywood most alluring is the particular way the sequence subverts gender roles, inside the film’s larger parodic enterprise. Perhaps it makes sense that the figure on whose efforts this delicate exercise largely rests is the megawatt actor Shah Rukh Khan, maybe the only Indian superstar suited for the task.

What is it about SRK? He is at once the biggest and most versatile of Bollywood heroes, a star said to command a larger fan following than any other working actor in the world today , a man who does psychological thriller, screwball comedy, earnest romance, ditzy rom-com, serious biopic, and, lately, testosterone-fueled action. He’s said to be five-feet-seven, shorter than some of his female co-stars, seemingly still in full possession of his springy hair, and is physically muscular yet lithe, with a dancer’s grace, as if Gene Kelly had dabbled in steroids. Other heartthrobs of his generation and stature — Salman Khan with his rigid musculature; Aamir Khan, chilly and slightly cerebral; Akshay Kumar with his square frat-boy face — can seem as inflexible as plastic superheroes in Mattel boxes. But SRK is chameleonic, sensual, even as he stays unerringly poised and polite in interviews and on social media, as if he signed a contract for statesmanlike celebrityhood in blood. At 57, he still conveys a whiff of the unconflicted naïveté of 1990s Bollywood superstardom, when gold was an absolute good and fame an incontrovertible blessing. One nickname, “Brand SRK,” feels all too fitting, if unwittingly so, for a populist golden goose willing to lend his image, name, and endorsement even to products as unsexy as ballpoint pens and air conditioners. “Tide,” he is pronouncing at this very moment in some household on the subcontinent, “is the real SRK,” meaning the “stain removal king.” Yet a funny aliveness inevitably roughs up all his performances, a suggestion that he is highly sensitive to the bizarre pageantry of his life and of the industry.

Nowhere is this self-awareness more evident than in Om Shanti Om . The film, often called a love letter to Bollywood, skewers the industry’s foibles (among them nepotism and melodrama) with precision. It’s an homage in every sense, including in how it requires of its performers that they operate in all of Bollywood’s high keys — comedy, drama, action — convincingly, within a single movie. In the palimpsest of “Dhoom Taana,” which inserts the movie’s stars — Khan and, notably, Deepika Padukone, a superstar in her own right today, here in her debut role — into vintage Bollywood footage, the film’s playful skewering reaches a zenith.

Padukone plays Shanti Priya, an “It”-girl actress in 1970s Bollywood — loosely inspired by the legendary beauty Hema Malini — for whom Khan’s character, a struggling actor from the tenements named Om Kapoor, nurses a one-sided infatuation. In an early scene, he’s in the cheap seats at the premiere of her movie. When the curtains open, a film inside our film starts: The item number “Dhoom Taana” reveals Padukone as Shanti Priya, superimposed into the fuzzy romance of the palace in the 1966 period film Amrapali . The editing trick isn’t part of the fiction of Om Shanti Om , of course, but we outside viewers are in on the diegesis. Against the muted colors of the remastered film, Padukone as Shanti Priya shines with a hyperalive splendor. (Padukone, daughter of the badminton champion Prakash Padukone, conveys that rare mix of sport and glamour, health and excess, that makes, say, Charlize Theron, powerfully alive onscreen.) Dressed in a tangerine-colored dance sari, her midriff and arms bare, she brushes against a remastered Sunil Dutt, playing a stoic BCE emperor, shirtless and mustachioed, serene and slightly ghostly, his epicene 1970s torso a surprise.

The serenade is interrupted by Om Kapoor’s daydreaming. Suddenly, we are in his fantasy — it’s he who is the hero. Shah Rukh Khan’s body, not Dutt’s, captures our attention, as vibrant as Padukone’s in the flickering palace, 2000s muscled rather than 1970s undefined, and desperate for the woman rather than the other way around. We’ve watched SRK play the dashing fool before — after making an entrance with villainous, creepy roles, he shot to global fame in the late 1990s, baring his heart, and occasionally his chest, to audiences in India and across the diaspora in a series of rom-coms (and the most picturesque of rom-drams, Dil Se ). With Om Shanti Om, he pulls off an uncanny complexity.

“What is most beautiful in virile men is something feminine,” Susan Sontag wrote in her classic text Notes on Camp, in which she calls androgyny a hallmark of camp sensibility . And Khan, as the naïvely ambitious, lovesick Kapoor, telegraphs as somehow half-man and half-woman, half-empowered and half-doomed, a perfect ambassador for the campiest of film industries. (Let’s presume Sontag hadn’t seen a Bollywood movie, already flamboyant in her time, or else how to explain the genre’s exclusion from her piercing eye?) He waggles his eyebrows, bounces goofily on beat, his heart set on a woman who will never be his, in a world he will never conquer. His movements are slightly too much, desperate.

But that vulnerability is laced with a cool self-assurance. He seduces as he pleads. Is it Om Kapoor we see? Or Shah Rukh Khan in his greatest performance yet? The superstar, pretending to be the opposite? Padukone, a newcomer playing a star, next to a real one playing a nobody, participates in this inversion: Is she the hero, or is he? Is she in control, or is he? When, midway through the movie, Om Kapoor dashes into a fire that’s broken out on set to rescue Shanti Priya — another reference to a deep cut of Bollywood lore (the story of how the actress Nargis fell in love with none other than Sunil Dutt after a similar rescue) — his movements again throw inversions into relief. She is the VIP on set; he is the peon … or? He carries her out of the flames, stumbling slightly, but a new strength in his gait competes with the obsequiousness. His face flickers with a mix of disbelief and certitude; her eyes are on him. For a moment, as in the best romances, whatever is between them seems larger than the structures that hold them, pure, unvarnished.

Like so many figures who capture mass attention, Shah Rukh Khan can seem to have been born to throw matters of identity into question. The son of a Pathan father from Afghanistan and a Hyderabadi mother, he grew up in Delhi, a middle-class boy who attended a prestigious local private school. That history helps explain his appeal, or so argued a pair of born-and-bred Mumbaikers to me recently: He’s the rare outsider to become Bollywood’s consummate insider, a carefully educated convent-school boy in a sea of unworldly nepo babies who know nothing else. This pedigree is also why, they suggested, he’s kept a relatively sterling reputation, free of the rumors of ultrasleazy or violent behavior that attend some peers. In college, Khan began to study acting and left a master’s degree in communications early to pursue an acting career. In his mid-20s, before he was a household name, he married Gauri Chhibber, a hometown sweetheart, a Delhi girl known to him since he was 18 and she was 14, according to an interview he gave in the 2005 BBC documentary The Inner Life of Shah Rukh Khan . They settled in Bombay, the city where his second life began; his parents had both died in their mid-50s. Khan is Muslim, his wife Hindu.

Om Shanti Om , in line with its mandate to parody, revolves around a reincarnation plot, one of those Bollywoodian devices that draws mockery and analysis. “Hindi film,” the novelist Amit Chaudhuri argued wryly in The Guardian in 2006 , using an early term for the country’s mainstream cinema (hinged on the defining aspect of language), “is not an innocent genre,” unlike the films of Hollywood. Where the Western trope of the hero’s journey would have you believe that a person’s fate rests in their hands, Chaudhuri argues, Bollywood machinery pulls from a more ancient belief system, one aware that we have no control over our fates: “This doesn’t mean Hindi cinema is fatalistic — its exuberance is indispensable to its conviction that life is an unrecognizable rather than categorizable thing.” Offscreen, it’s time that forces us to realize the fact of this cruel grandeur, our puniness in the face of life’s whims, but “Bollywood reveals it to its audience [through] a series of devices: For example, coincidences, doubles, brothers separated at birth. These devices make the Hindi film embarrassing but also, at its best, very moving.” Om Shanti Om features several of these: Coincidences abound, but most strikingly, our two main characters disappear partway through the film and are reborn, now in reversed roles. Doubles, check. Rebirth, that supremely Hindu narrative device, check. Khan plays both a wannabe and, eventually, a superstar. He ends the movie, one could say, as himself. Padukone is now the upstart. All is right, in a sense, or at least, all is possible. Khan’s 360-degree abilities help make it so.

But if Hinduism is intrinsic to the Bollywood machinery, so, of course, is Khan — and the country’s many Muslim superstars and invisible artisans, past and present: a signifier of the essential pluralism beneath the country’s majoritarianism. Khan is unique in how he transmits this complexity. Before Om Shanti Om , there was Main Hoon Na , also with director Farah Khan, her first feature and their first partnership. That movie explicitly dealt with religious strife, with its buoyant envisioning of Indo-Pak relations. But in the cocoon of Om Shanti Om ’s Bollywood, subversions are subtler. In one early scene, as the lovelorn Om Kapoor, Khan wears a flashy golden necklace, its bulky pendant etched against the triangle of skin exposed by a casually unbuttoned shirt. At first glance, the gaudy bauble looks cheap, set against Khan’s floppy-haired boyishness, a prop for an infantilized member of a boy band. In fact, it’s a marker of his canniness and intensity as an Indian public figure. The pendant is made of three symbols, suggestive of the country’s most populous religious groups: an Om symbol, a crescent with star, and a cross, commingling as they sometimes do on the backs of auto rickshaws and on the walls of shops. The pendant leaps from the screen, a betrayal, perhaps, of Khan’s, more than his character’s, preoccupations; like any smart service worker, he lets us know everyone is welcome to buy what he’s selling.

Or maybe that’s too crass an interpretation. In The Inner Life of Shah Rukh Khan, we see him on his off-hours, the politesse slightly loosened. He presents as an uninhibited, bone-deep Indian pluralist, if slightly limited in his embrace, to the largest of the country’s faiths. He organizes a Lakshmi puja with studio employees, eager for the fortune promised by the Hindu goddess of wealth. A later scene shows him at home with his wife and kids at an altar set up for Diwali. “Children should know about the value of God, whether it’s a Hindu God or a Muslim God,” he says, adding that a copy of the Quran sits beside icons of Ganesha and Lakshmi, and that he folds his hands in a namaskar position when his son says the Hindu prayer, the Gayatri Mantra, while elsewhere in the house, he might chant the Muslim invocation, Bismillah . “I’m not a great follower of religion,” he continues. “I believe in Allah very strongly, but I’ve never been forced by my parents to read the namaz five times a day.” In the Khan household, we learn, Eid, Diwali, and Christmas are all celebrated.

In the years since, he has continued his dizzying productivity, even as he’s ridden constant waves of disappearances and comebacks. He’s played antiheroes and darlings, dozens of Hindu characters but also, with time, Muslim ones, perhaps most famously, Rizwan Khan, in the 2010 film My Name Is Khan . That film, about a Muslim man with autism married to a Hindu woman, immigrants in America who respond to the hostile Islamophobia of the post-9/11 landscape by trying to meet the president, threw Khan into the path of India’s Hindu far right, namely the Shiv Sena Party, which demanded protests and boycotts of the movie after he spoke out against the passing over of members of Pakistan’s cricket team by the Indian Premier League. If he was stealthily Muslim before, he was no longer — his complexity as an Indian superstar extended on- and offscreen.

Last year’s release of Pathaan , a second blockbuster action movie, after Jawan , reunited Khan and Padukone (and stars John Abraham, who is Christian by birth) and again stoked ire. Members of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party called for a boycott and burned posters in the streets, their censure directed at the song-and-dance number “Besharam Rang,” or “Shameless Color.” Once more, Padukone and Khan only have eyes for each other. Only now we are in a fantasy so calculated there’s nothing fantastical about it: a seaside boardwalk in Spain, Padukone smoldering in swimwear. Business as usual for Bollywood. Khan appears in his latest incarnation — grizzled with a goatee, an elder statesman returned to the screen.

The notorious bit arrives at the end. Padukone wears a bikini in a shade likened by critics to the orange robes of Hindu ascetics as she writhes, an insult to Hinduism, argued the affronted. An offshoot theory cast Khan’s body under direct suspicion: His six-pack, naysayers insist (more sharply defined than ever), can’t possibly be real. Of course, it seems likely that it’s Khan’s onscreen embodiment of a national hero — he plays a Muslim character who is a gifted employee of the Indian intelligence agency RAW — that is the fiction under attack by the emboldened Hindu right of today. His own claims to Indian identity, as an “out” Muslim star, as well. Padukone’s tangerine sari of Dhoom Tana against his Om Kapoor never inspired rebuke. But Khan is ever capable, a man of his craft, a man of his country, and a man for many moments. On the press tour, in a mix of Hindi and English, he delivered a riposte that was also a reminder, as fetching as the reminiscences of Om Shanti Om : Deepika is Amar, I’m Akbar, John is Anthony. Not an obtuse reference, but a keen one, to the 1977 Bollywood film Amar Akbar Anthony , about three Indian brothers separated at birth and raised in different religious communities. A sleeker invocation, you could say, than the bulky pendant, and similarly, one only Khan, the chameleon, could pull off quite so winningly.

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Shah Rukh Khan (I)

Music department.

IMDbPro Starmeter Top 5,000 447

• Contact info
• 125 wins & 156 nominations

• Rizvan Khan

• Devdas Mukherji (as Shahrukh Khan)

• Samar Anand
• In Production

• Hardayal Singh Dhillon

• Vikram Rathore

• Mohan Bhargav

• Shah Rukh Khan

• Bauua Singh

• Harinder 'Harry' Singh Nehra

• Goga Pasha (uncredited)

• Dr. Jehangir Khan

• producer (uncredited)

• co-producer (2010-2011)

• playback singer

• In-development projects at IMDbPro

Personal details

• 5′ 7½″ (1.72 m)
• November 2 , 1965
• New Delhi, India
• Gauri Khan October 25, 1991 - present (3 children)
• Children Aryan Khan
• Parents Lateef Fatima Khan
• Shehnaz Lalarukh (Sibling)
• Other works Shah Rukh did the voice of Mr. Incredible (Mr. Lajawaab), character for Hindi dubbed version of Disney's animated film, The Incredibles (Hum Hain Lajawaab).
• 1 Biographical Movie
• 8 Print Biographies
• 1 Interview
• 5 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

• Trivia Loves watching movies alone in the darkness of his BMW car.
• Quotes Yes, I do have a close circle of friends and I am very fortunate to have them as friends. I feel very close to them I think friends are everything in life after your family. You come across lots of people all the time but you only make very few friends and you have to be true to them otherwise what's the point in life?
• Trademarks His Dimples
• The Baadshah of Bollywood
• The Raja of Bollywood
• King of Romance
• Salaries Dunki ( 2023 ) ₹280,000,000

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Shah Rukh Khan Height, Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

Some lesser known facts about shah rukh khan.

• Shah Rukh Khan, also known as SRK, is an Indian actor and film producer who mostly works in Hindi films. He is also called the “Baadshah of Bollywood,” “King of Bollywood,” and “King Khan.” Shah Rukh, who has a lot of fans in Asia and around the world, is recognized as one of the most successful actors in Bollywood. He is also considered to be among the most popular actors worldwide.

Shah Rukh Khan’s Childhood Photo

Shah Rukh Khan’s Rajinder Nagar House in Delhi

Shah Rukh Khan’s Gautam Nagar House in Delhi

• During an interview, he told that his mother was a South Indian and belonged to Andhra Pradesh, who later moved to Karnataka.

I was adopted by my grandparents when my parents were working hard to make ends meet. So I spent the first five to six years of my life in Bengaluru. var adpushup = window.adpushup = window.adpushup || {}; adpushup.que = adpushup.que || []; adpushup.que.push(function() { adpushup.triggerAd("15a5b0e2-2cba-4f1b-bc64-939559447f88"); }); A view of the house of Iftekhar Ahmed, the maternal grandfather of Shahrukh Khan, in Bengaluru

A File Photo of General Shah Nawaz Khan With Subhash Chandra Bose

• Shah Rukh’s parents had a love marriage. They met each other for the first time in a hospital, where his mother was injured and needed blood. At that time, his father donated blood to his mother. Their love started at that moment.
• He was just 15 years old when his father died due to cancer in 1981.

We were so young and then to take a decision to get married and to a person who is going to join films, and being from a different religion.”

Gauri also revealed that Shah Rukh once changed his name to Abhinav to make her parents believe that he was a Hindu. Gauri said,

We changed his name to Abhinav so they (her parents) feel he is a Hindu boy but that was really silly and very childish.”

• He was named Shahrukh, which means “Face of the King,” but he prefers to write his name as ‘Shah Rukh Khan.’
• Shah Rukh Khan has an immense love for video games.
• He was a sportsman in his school days. Once, while he was playing football in the Dr. Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi, he kicked a ball during a penalty and tore up his entire right side muscle. He was then, on bed rest for a month and his sports career came to an end.
• Apart from being good at sports like football, hockey, and cricket, Shah Rukh was also fond of the many popular Indian street games like flying the kites and playing Gilli-Danda and Kancha (Marbles).

Shah Rukh Khan Playing Cricket In His Younger Days

Shah Rukh Khan Received Sword Of Honour

• During an interview, he shared that he doesn’t take shower on Sundays.

Shah Rukh Khan’s C Gang

• In his youth, he used to mimic legendary Bollywood actors like Dilip Kumar , Amitabh Bachchan , Mumtaz, etc.

Shah Rukh Khan Performing in a Play During His College Days

Shah Rukh Khan With Barry John

I wasn’t a part of the National School of Drama, but I used to work with a lot of actors who were from there. Manoj (Bajpayee) wasn’t from there either, but he and I worked with actors like Raghuvir Yadav and others who were a part of NSD. They used to help with our syntax and enunciation when we were doing theatre in Delhi. I learnt a lot from them. My father used to run the canteen at NSD, which is how I got to know all the amazing actors from there.”

• His first salary was ₹50, which he earned by working as an escort at  Pankaj Udhas ‘s concert in Delhi. Once, he even tried to expand a small restaurant in Dariya Ganj, but it didn’t work.
• After receiving his first salary, Shah Rukh took the train to Agra and visited the Taj Mahal.

Shah Rukh Khan With Vivek Vaswani

• He was first offered a role in Lekh Tandon’s television show “Dil Dariya,” but there were continuous delays in the broadcasting of the show, which led his series “Fauji” to become his television debut.

I always wanted to join the Army, so I would have aimed for that had acting not happened.” Shah Rukh Khan During the shoot of the film, Fauji

Shah Rukh Khan in a still from In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones (L), a young Arundhati Roy (R)

• After his mother’s demise in 1991, he shifted to Mumbai along with his sister.

Because I was not too happy about him coming to Bombay. I actually didn’t even know when he became a star. It was very shocking for me first to be here, and films and everything. It was very, very difficult. I actually didn’t want his films to do well. I thought if it flopped, I should go back to Delhi. Because when you are so young and I got married at 21. Films, how and what happens, everything was so new. For me it was like nothing should run and everything should be a flop.”

Dil Aashna Hai Poster

• Later, he featured in films like “Chamatkar,” “Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman,” “Maya Memsaab,” “King Uncle,” “Baazigar,” and “Darr.” He even did a cameo in the Bollywood film “Pehla Nasha.”
• Although he doesn’t stammer in his real life, his dialogue “I love you K…k…k Kiran” from the film “Darr” became an evergreen hit.

Shah Rukh Khan In Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa

• He became a household name after the blockbuster film “Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge.”
• While shooting for the song “Chaiya Chaiya” from the film “Dil Se” on a moving train, Shah Rukh was the only person who was not tied to the train. All the other dancers were tied to the train for protection.

• Besides ruling the world of acting, he is also famous for his hosting skills, which have been justified in numerous award shows starting with the 48th Filmfare Awards and then in a row- 49th, 52nd, 53rd, 55th, 57th, 58th, 61st, 62nd, and 63rd Filmfare Awards. He has also hosted the 20th and 21st Life OK Screen Awards and the 6th, and 14th International Indian Film Academy Awards.

Shah Rukh Khan Hosting Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 3

Shah Rukh Khan hosting Kya Aap Paanchvi Paas Se Tez Hain?

• He has a fear of riding horses and hates eating ice-creams.

Shah Rukh Khan’s Kolkata Knight Riders

• He has also been the brand ambassador of various government campaigns like “Pulse Polio” and “National AIDS Control Organisation.” He was delegated by the UNOPS as the first global ambassador of the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council.
• In 2012, SRK made his first on-screen kiss in the film “Jab Tak Hai Jaan.”
• In 2013, Shah Rukh Khan founded the Meer Foundation (NGO), which works to rehabilitate burn and acid attack survivors and empower women in India.

Shah Rukh Khan’s Book- King Khan: The Official Opus of Shah Rukh Khan

Shah Rukh Khan With His Son Abram

Shahrukh Khan’s Transformation In Fan

• In 2017, he came up with an Indian talk show- TED Talks India Nayi Soch produced by TED conferences.

Shah Rukh Khan Receiving Human Rights Awareness Award

Shah Rukh Khan With His Wax Statue At London’s Madame Tussaud’s Museum

• SRK has charmed people worldwide with his signature pose, i.e., spreading his arms wide open.
• In 2018, Aanand L. Rai came up with a movie titled “Zero,” featuring Shah Rukh Khan in the lead role. The film was also in the news for Sridevi ‘s last appearance in films.
• SRK has a great obsession with numerology and is very much superstitious about the number 555 as he believes it brings good luck for him. Moreover, most of his cars have registered number 555 and his personal e-mail ID also contains the same number.
• Despite believing in Islam, he equally values his wife’s religion and teaches his children too, to do the same. He once said that at his home, the Qur’an was situated next to the Hindu Gods.
• Shah Rukh Khan revealed in an interview that he was not a nature lover.
• In 2019, he made headlines for his appearance in a series of videos for Dubai Tourism’s #BeMyGuest campaign. In the video, he was seen alongside superheroes Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor as they joined hands to solve a riddle in Dubai.

View this post on Instagram Superpowers… Do I need them to find all the Dubai coins? Can I beat the odds this time? Watch the action unfold… #BeMyGuest @visit.dubai A post shared by Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) on Mar 21, 2019 at 12:27am PDT

• In October 2019, Shah Rukh Khan appeared on David Letterman’s talk show, which featured on Netflix.

• He is a night person and sleeps every day at around 5 in the morning.
• During a rapid-fire round of a chat show, he revealed that he was obsessed with computers.
• During the 2019 Diwali bash at Amitabh Bachchan ‘s house, Shah Rukh Khan saved Aishwarya Rai ‘s manager, Archana Sadanand, from fire. Archana was with her daughter in the courtyard when her lehenga caught fire. While everyone else got stunned by the incident, Shah Rukh rushed to her and put out the fire.
• In June 2022, he announced on Twitter that he had become the owner of a women’s cricket team named Trinbago Knight Riders under his Knight Riders cricket team franchise.

This is such a happy moment for all of us at @KKRiders @ADKRiders & of course the lovely set of people at @TKRiders Hope I can make it there to see this live!! https://t.co/IC9Gr96h92 — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) June 17, 2022

• In July 2023, he was announced as the brand ambassador for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. While launching the World Cup 2023 campaign, the ICC shared a video clip of the actor’s iconic voice on its official social media platforms.

Shah Rukh Khan consuming alcoholic beverages

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In the vast tapestry of Indian cinema, there emerges a figure whose influence transcends borders, captivating hearts and minds across the globe. Shah Rukh Khan, often hailed as the “Badshah of Bollywood,” has become an indelible part of the cultural zeitgeist. Born on November 2, 1965, in New Delhi, India, Shah Rukh’s journey from a middle-class upbringing to the pinnacle of global stardom is a saga of resilience, passion, and unyielding dedication.

Page Contents

Early Life and Education

Shah Rukh Khan was born to Meer Taj Muhammad Khan, a freedom fighter, and Latif Fatima, a magistrate and social worker. The Khan family lived in the Rajendra Nagar neighborhood of New Delhi, and young Shah Rukh grew up in a modest environment. His father’s tales of struggle during the Indian independence movement instilled in him a sense of resilience and a strong work ethic.

Educated at St. Columba’s School, Khan displayed early signs of his innate charisma and leadership skills. His flair for acting and love for the stage became evident during school plays and dramas. Despite the financial constraints of his family, Shah Rukh’s parents supported his passion for arts and encouraged him to pursue his dreams.

Transition to the Silver Screen

Shah Rukh Khan’s foray into acting wasn’t an overnight success. His journey began with television, where he appeared in shows like “Fauji” and “Umeed.” While these roles showcased his potential, it was the 1992 film “Deewana” that marked his debut in Bollywood. The film’s success catapulted him into the limelight, earning him the Filmfare Best Male Debut Award.

The early years of Khan’s career were marked by a series of romantic hits, including “Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman” (1992) and “Darr” (1993). However, it was his collaboration with director Yash Chopra in “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” (1995) that established him as the quintessential romantic hero of Indian cinema. The film not only became a cultural phenomenon but also cemented Shah Rukh’s status as the “King of Romance.”

Versatility and Range

While Khan gained widespread acclaim for his romantic roles, he refused to be typecast and demonstrated his versatility by taking on diverse characters. In “Baazigar” (1992), he played an anti-hero with chilling intensity, a departure from his romantic image. This ability to seamlessly transition between genres set him apart from his contemporaries.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Shah Rukh Khan delivered a string of critically acclaimed performances in films such as “Dil To Pagal Hai” (1997), “My Name is Khan” (2010), and “Chak De! India” (2007). These roles showcased his acting prowess and established him as more than just a romantic lead.

Entrepreneurial Ventures

Beyond the silver screen, Shah Rukh Khan’s entrepreneurial spirit has played a significant role in shaping his legacy. In 2001, he founded Red Chillies Entertainment, a production company that has been behind numerous successful films. Red Chillies not only produced Bollywood blockbusters but also ventured into international collaborations, further expanding Shah Rukh’s global footprint.

Khan’s foray into the Indian Premier League (IPL) with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2008 showcased his diverse business acumen. Despite initial challenges, KKR emerged victorious in the 2012 season, bringing unprecedented joy to Kolkata and solidifying Shah Rukh’s position as a shrewd businessman.

Global Recognition and Cultural Impact

As the 21st century unfolded, Shah Rukh Khan’s influence transcended borders, earning him recognition on the global stage. He became a familiar face to international audiences through films like “My Name is Khan,” which addressed important social issues, including discrimination and Islamophobia. Khan’s nuanced portrayal of Rizwan Khan, a man with Asperger’s syndrome, earned him accolades for tackling a complex character with sensitivity and depth.

The “Badshah of Bollywood” has received numerous awards, including fourteen Filmfare Awards, and has been honored with the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award. In 2018, he was honored with the Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum in Davos for his leadership in championing women’s and children’s rights in India.

Shah Rukh Khan’s influence extends beyond the entertainment industry. His charm, wit, and charisma have made him a sought-after speaker at global events, including prestigious universities and international forums. His journey from a middle-class boy with big dreams to a global icon serves as an inspiration to millions.

Personal Life and Philanthropy

Amidst his glittering career, Shah Rukh Khan has maintained a balance between his professional and personal life. He married Gauri Khan in 1991, and the couple has three children—Aryan, Suhana, and AbRam. Despite the constant media scrutiny, the Khans have guarded their privacy fiercely, providing a sense of normalcy to their family life.

Shah Rukh Khan’s philanthropic efforts have been as significant as his cinematic achievements. He has been actively involved in various charitable causes, including child health and education. In 2011, Khan was appointed as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador, furthering his commitment to advocating for the rights of children globally.

Challenges and Resilience

Shah Rukh Khan’s journey to superstardom has not been without its challenges. The actor faced setbacks and criticism, particularly during periods when some of his films did not perform well at the box office. However, his resilience and ability to bounce back with renewed vigor have been crucial to his enduring success.

The mid-2010s saw a series of films that did not meet the astronomical expectations associated with Khan’s name. However, instead of shying away from experimentation, he embraced diverse roles in films like “Fan” (2016) and “Raees” (2017), reaffirming his commitment to pushing creative boundaries.

Legacy and Future

As Shah Rukh Khan enters the fifth decade of his life, his influence remains unparalleled. The term “Bollywood” has become synonymous with his name for audiences around the world. His impact on Indian cinema, both as an actor and a producer, has reshaped the industry and opened new avenues for storytelling.

Beyond the cinematic realm, Shah Rukh Khan’s legacy is a testament to the power of dreams and the ability to break barriers. His journey from a middle-class boy in Delhi to a global icon mirrors the aspirations of millions who dare to dream big. As he continues to evolve as an actor, businessman, and philanthropist, Shah Rukh Khan remains an enduring symbol of inspiration for generations to come.

Shah Rukh Khan’s biography is not just a chronicle of a Bollywood superstar; it is a narrative of dreams materialized, challenges overcome, and a legacy etched in the annals of Indian cinema. From the streets of New Delhi to the glitzy world of Bollywood, Khan’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of passion, hard work, and resilience. As he continues to illuminate screens and hearts worldwide, Shah Rukh Khan remains an icon—an embodiment of the dreams that define the human spirit.

• Shah Rukh Khan biography

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Shah Rukh Khan Biography

Shah Rukh Khan, also known as the ‘Badshah of Bollywood’ and the ‘King Khan’, is a leading star in the Indian film industry. With his romantic charm and immense talent, he has ruled the Indian cinematic world for decades. Despite facing obstacles and criticism, Shah Rukh’s passion and hard work have established him as one of the most renowned actors globally. He has an optimistic attitude towards life and firmly believes in God. Alongside his acting career, he is also a successful producer and owns a cricket team in the Indian Premier League. Despite his busy schedule, Shah Rukh always prioritizes his family.

Quick Facts

• Indian Celebrities Born In November
• Nick Name: SRK, King Khan
• Also Known As: ShahRukh Khan
• Age: 58 Years, 58 Year Old Males
• Spouse/Ex-: Gauri Khan
• Father: Taj Mohammed Khan
• Mother: Lateef Fatima Khan
• Siblings: Shehnaz Lalarukh Khan
• Children: AbRam Khan, Aryan Khan, Suhana Khan
• Born Country: India
• Millionaires
• Height: 5’7″ (170 cm), 5’7″ Males
• City: New Delhi, India
• Founder/Co-Founder: Dreamz Unlimited, Red Chillies Entertainment
• Education: St. Columba’s School, Delhi, Jamia Millia Islamia, 1988 – Hans Raj College, National School of Drama
• Humanitarian Work: Associated with ‘Make-A-Wish-Foundation’ and many other charitable organizations
• Filmfare Award for Best Actor – 2011-2008-2005
• Padma Shri Awards – 2005
• Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut – 1993
• Zee Cine Award for Best Actor – 2014-2011-2008
• Stardust Award for Star of the Year – Male – 2014-2013
• Star Guild Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role – 2010-2008
• IIFA Award for Best Actor – 2011-2008-2005
• Asianet Film Award for Icon of Indian Cinema – 2014
• Filmfare Power Award – 2005-2004
• Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance – 1994
• Stardust Award for Best Actor in a Thriller or Action – 2014
• Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor – 2001
• Screen Award for Best Actor – 2008-2005-2003
• Star Guild Award for Best Entertainer of the Year – 2014-2012-2011
• Bollywood Movie Award – Best Actor – 2005-2003-1999
• Global Diversity Award – 2014
• Screen Award for Jodi No. 1 – 2012-2007-2005
• Zee Cine Award for International Male Icon – 2013
• Indian Telly Award for Best Anchor/s – 2007
• Zee Cine Critics Award for Best Actor – Male – 2012
• IIFA Award for Star of the Decade (Male) – 2009
• Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan Award for Excellence in Indian Cinema – 2013
• STAR Parivaar Award for Sabse Yaadgaar Pal (Non fiction) -2010
• Filmfare Award for Best Villain – Tamil – 1995
• Star Plus Entertainer of the Year – 2013
• Asianet Film Award for Lifetime Achievement – 2012
• Bollywood Movie Award – Most Sensational Actor – 1999
• Zee Cine Award for Most Influential Bollywood Personality on Social Media – 2014
• Vijay Award for Entertainer of Indian Cinema – 2014
• GIFA Most Searched Male Actor on Internet – 2005
• ITA Award for Best Anchor – Game/Quiz Show – 2008
• BIG Star Most Entertaining Actor in a Romantic Role – Male – 2012
• Global Indian Film Honours for Best Actor – Male – 2011
• GIFA Best Actor Award – 2005
• Zee Cine Award Superstar of the Year- Actor – 2004

Childhood & Early Life

Shah Rukh Khan was born on November 2, 1965, in New Delhi, India. His parents are Meer Taj Mohammed Khan and Lateef Fatima. He attended St. Columba’s School in Delhi and excelled academically. He was also talented in sports and received the prestigious “Sword of Honour” from the school.

Khan went on to study Economics at Hansraj College in Delhi, where he also received acting training from Barry John of the Theatre Action Group. After completing his bachelor’s degree in 1988, he joined Jamia Millia Islamia University for post-graduate studies in Mass Communication. However, he dropped out to pursue a career in acting. He also attended the National School of Drama in Delhi before launching his acting career.

Khan got his first acting break in the television show “Dil Dariya” in 1988. He made his debut in the world of television with the series “Fauji” in 1989. He also appeared in other television series and telefilms during this time. In 1991, he traveled to Mumbai with the dream of joining the Indian film industry. He signed four films that year and started shooting for “Dil Aashna Hai,” directed by Hema Malini.

His film “Deewana” was released in 1992, marking the beginning of his Bollywood journey. He went on to play the protagonist in several films before venturing into the role of an anti-hero. In 1993, he played the anti-hero in the movies “Darr” and “Baazigar.” The following years saw the release of more successful films, including “Anjaam,” “Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa,” and “Karan Arjun.”

In 1995, Khan starred in the blockbuster film “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge,” which became one of the biggest hits in Indian cinema. He continued to act in successful films throughout the 2000s, including “Devdas,” “Kal Ho Naa Ho,” “Chak De! India,” and “Om Shanti Om.” He also established his production house, Red Chillies Entertainment, in 2004.

Khan has received numerous awards for his performances, including several Filmfare Awards for Best Actor. He has also been honored with the Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian awards in India. In addition to his acting career, Khan has hosted television shows and owns the Kolkata Knight Riders cricket team.

Major Works

One of the biggest hits of Shah Rukh Khan’s career is the film “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” (DDLJ), released in 1995. The movie is considered one of the biggest blockbusters in the history of Indian cinema and has been running in theaters since its release, completing 1000 weeks in 2014.

Personal Life & Legacy

Khan married Gauri Chibber in 1991, and they have three children together named Aryan, Suhana, and AbRam. He suffered a serious spinal injury in 2001, which required surgery and temporarily halted his career. Khan is known for his philanthropic work and is involved in various causes, including Pulse Polio and National AIDS Control Organization.

Shah Rukh Khan has an estimated net worth of $600 million, making him one of the richest actors in the world.

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Home » Celebrities » Celebrities » Actor » Shah Rukh Khan – A Biography of the King of Bollywood

Shah Rukh Khan – A Biography of the King of Bollywood

Shah Rukh Khan, also known as the “King of Bollywood,” is one of the most successful actors in the Indian film industry. Born on November 2, 1965, in New Delhi, India, Khan began his acting career in the late 1980s and quickly rose to fame with his roles in romantic dramas.

Throughout his career, Khan has appeared in more than 80 Bollywood films, many of which have become massive box office hits. He is known for his versatility as an actor, as well as his charming personality and quick wit.

Khan’s success in the film industry has also led to significant wealth. According to Forbes, he has an estimated net worth of $750 million, making him the richest actor in India and one of the wealthiest actors in the world.

In addition to his acting career, Khan has also invested in a number of business ventures over the years. He co-owns a production company called Red Chillies Entertainment, which has produced some of the biggest Bollywood hits in recent years. He is also the co-owner of a cricket team called Kolkata Knight Riders, which competes in the Indian Premier League.

Khan’s success has also led to numerous endorsement deals with major brands, including Pepsi, Nokia, and Hyundai, among others. He is known for his charismatic persona and has become one of the most sought-after brand ambassadors in India.

Despite his immense wealth and success, Khan remains grounded and committed to his family and community. He is known for his philanthropic work and has supported a number of charitable causes over the years, including child health and education initiatives.

In conclusion, Shah Rukh Khan’s immense talent, charisma, and business acumen have made him one of the most successful actors in the Indian film industry. His net worth of $750 million is a testament to his hard work and dedication, as well as his ability to leverage his success into other business ventures.

Here is a timeline of Shah Rukh Khan’s life and career:

• 1965 : Shah Rukh Khan is born on November 2 in New Delhi, India.
• 1988 : Khan makes his acting debut in the television series “Fauji.”
• 1992 : Khan makes his Bollywood debut in the film “Deewana,” which becomes a commercial success.
• 1993 : Khan appears in the film “Baazigar,” which earns him his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor.
• 1995 : Khan stars in the film “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge,” which becomes one of the biggest Bollywood hits of all time and solidifies his status as a leading actor in the industry.
• 1999 : Khan starts his own production company, Red Chillies Entertainment.
• 2004 : Khan receives the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian awards, for his contributions to Indian cinema.
• 2008 : Khan becomes the co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders, a team in the Indian Premier League.
• 2011 : Khan stars in the science-fiction film “Ra.One,” which becomes one of the most expensive Bollywood films ever made.
• 2013 : Khan receives the Chubb Fellowship at Yale University in recognition of his leadership in championing women’s and children’s rights in India.
• 2017 : Khan stars in the film “Jab Harry Met Sejal” and receives mixed reviews from critics and audiences.
• 2019 : Khan appears in the film “Zero,” which receives mixed reviews and underperforms at the box office.
• 2020 : Khan announces that he will not be acting in any new films for the time being to focus on his family and other business ventures.

This is a brief timeline of some of the major milestones in Shah Rukh Khan’s life and career.

5 Interesting Facts About Shah Rukh Khan:

• Khan was initially named Abdul Rashid Khan but his father changed his name to Shah Rukh Khan after the Mughal Emperor Shah Rukh Khan.
• He began his career in the entertainment industry as a television actor, before moving on to films.
• Khan has a degree in Economics from Hansraj College and a Masters in Mass Communication from Jamia Millia Islamia.
• In 2018, he was honored with the Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum in Davos for his leadership in championing women’s and children’s rights in India.
• Khan is known for his philanthropic work and has supported a number of charitable causes, including child health and education initiatives.

5 Quotes From Shah Rukh Khan:

• “Success is not a good teacher, failure makes you humble.”
• “I’m like a Rolls Royce that’s been driven for too long, too many miles. I’m all run down.”
• “I don’t want to be number one, I just want to be a part of the industry that entertains people.”
• “I truly believe my job is to make sure people smile.”
• “I’m a workaholic. I love working. I go to work happy. And if I’m not on the set, I’m not happy.”

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• Inspiring Success Story Of Shah Rukh Khan From A Delhi Boy To The King Of Bollywood

Inspiring Success Story Of Shah Rukh Khan From A Delhi Boy To The King of Bollywood

From the streets of Delhi to becoming the King of Bollywood, take a look at Shah Rukh Khan’s inspiring journey.

Published On Feb 09, 2024 | Updated On Mar 04, 2024

The mere mention of Shah Rukh Khan's name brings an image of charisma, charm, and a heart-melting smile. He is arguably the most loved and popular Bollywood star who has received immense love from his fans over the years. Going by the nicknames of King Khan, Badshah, King of Bollywood, King of Romance, Khan Saab, and SRK, Shah Rukh Khan is an actor of calibre and a man of integrity. However, this celebrated actor of today didn't always have a smooth life. His success is a result of consistency, commitment, grit, determination, and an unwavering belief in his dreams. If you're interested in knowing about the biography of Shah Rukh Khan, here's a nuanced look into his early life, Bollywood debut, and everything else that makes him who he is.  Take a look at Shah Rukh Khan's inspiring biography

Early life of SRK

Son of the independence activist Meer Taj Mohammad Khan and Lateef Fatima, Shah Rukh Khan was born on 2nd November 1965. Shah Rukh Khan's biography tells us that he is half-Hyderabadi and half-Pathan. He spent his childhood in Delhi and completed his schooling at Columba’s School, where he was awarded the Sword of Honour award in recognition of his excellent performance in academics, sports, and co-curricular activities. Shah Rukh Khan's journey then took him to Hansraj College, Delhi, to pursue a degree in Economics. However, owing to his inclination towards acting since childhood (with Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan as his favourites), Shah Rukh spent most of his time at acting gigs with the Delhi Theatre Action group. Eventually, he went to the National School of Drama.

Struggles in his life 

Shah Rukh Khan's stardom and glittery life that we all admire hasn't always been with him. Shah Rukh Khan's journey is full of hardships, and the most significant of these is perhaps losing his mother at a young age. Being born in a middle-class family in Delhi, Shah Rukh saw a lot of hardships on a financial level as well.  However, he was never one to succumb to adversities. Shah Rukh Khan's biography is so inspiring because it constantly shows us his efforts at creating a better life. After his mother's demise, Shah Rukh found solace in storytelling and theatre. He was a natural, and his talent gradually paved the path to his massive success. Soon, he moved to Mumbai with eyes full of drama and a small bag of belongings. Many rejections and underestimating roles later, a star was born that now has an international fandom. 

SRK's acting debut and trajectory 

Shah Rukh Khan’s age was 23 years old when he got his first acting gig for the TV series Dil Dariya in 1988. This was followed by his roles in other soap operas like Fauji (1989) and Circus (1989). The journey of Shah Rukh Khan to become a successful hero then saw him take up roles in mini-series, telefilms, and soap operas like Wagle ki Duniya and Umeed . His phenomenal acting skills soon caught the eye of industry seniors who saw his resemblance with Dilip Kumar.

In 1992, Shah Rukh Khan landed his Bollywood debut with Deewana and then Dilip Ashna Hai . His exceptional performance in these also got him the Best Debut award. Gradually, Shah Rukh was featured in commercial movies like Chamatkar and Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman .  In 1993, Shah Rukh Khan opted for two negative roles - Baazigar and Darr . Though people were sceptical initially, once again, with his great calibre even in a negative role, Shah Rukh won hearts and gave two box office hits. 

SRK's blockbuster era 

Having created a mark for himself over the years of struggle and then his marvellous debut, Shah Rukh Khan then had his blockbuster era. The journey of Shah Rukh Khan is well marked in history with his acclaimed performance in movies like Anjaam and K abhi Haan Kabhi Naa , which also fetched him the Best Actor Awards.  The years after this saw him hitting us after hits with Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge , Yes Boss, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai , Pardes , Dil Toh Pagal Hai , etc. During this time, Shah Rukh Khan and Yash Chopra were regarded as a powerful duo who created commercially successful hits. 

Rough patches in SRK's career 

With the glorious success, Shah Rukh Khan also had to endure a few rough patches. During the 2000s, he delivered some beautiful performances which were unfortunately unable to perform as expected at the box office.  During this phase, King Khan was dealing with major health issues, and he also had a lot of workload on him. Some of the movies he did during this phase include Duplicate , Asoka , Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani , Badshah , etc. The biography of Shah Rukh Khan should also list his production house Dreamz Unlimited, which was started with high hopes but could yield no significant results. 

Creating a legacy 

Shah Rukh Khan is a celebrated Indian hero whose home entrance gets crowded by hundreds of people on his birthday every year. People wait in anticipation to get just one glance at the superstar and the humble person that he is, Shah Rukh comes to the balcony and waves at his beloved fans. Despite the rough patches in his career, King Khan managed to work on big banner projects with ensemble casts. These include titles like Devdas , Kal Ho Na Ho , Mohabbatein , Chalte Chalte , and Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham . Eventually, he stepped into the world of production again, this time with his wife, Gauri Khan, and together they recreated Dreamz Unlimited into Red Chillies Entertainment Limited. Under this banner, Shah Rukh delivered popular movies like Main Hoon Naa and Veer Zara . His movie Swades is often called the best movie of his career. Swades was a widely loved film that also happens to be the first Indian movie to be shot on the NASA campus. Then came hits like Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna , Paheli , Chak De India , Don , Om Shanti Om , and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi .   His box office hits during recent years include Don 2 , Happy New Year , Chennai Express , My Name is Khan , Dilwale, Jab Tak Hai Jaan , etc. Last year, Shahr Rukh made a comeback after four years and gave us sensational like Pathaan and Jawan which were major box office hits. At the age of 58, Shah Rukh Khan is one of the fittest and best-looking people in the entertainment industry. He has beautifully maintained his image of a respectful, consistent, and humble actor who has never been a part of random scams or controversies. A man of true character and integrity, Shah Rukh Khan's journey is noteworthy and deserves to be applauded!

Shah Rukh Khan – Biography, Facts & Life Story

His Social Media Profiles

Height, weight & physical stats.

Shah Rukh Khan is a renowned Indian movie actor, film producer and television host. Owing to his immense recognition, he is recurrently called as “King Khan” or “King of Bollywood”. Shah Rukh Khan has starred in more than 80 Hindi movies. He is typically recognized for being one of the most prosperous superstars around the world.

King Khan was born in Delhi, India on 2nd November, 1965. His father name is Taj Mohammad Khan who as an Indian freedom fighter hailed from Peshawar and her mother Lateef Fatima. Shah Rukh Khan spent his infantile period in Rajendra Nagar part of New Delhi. He completed his schooling at St. Columba’s School and he actively participated in his sports, academics and drama activities.

Once completing his school, Shah Rukh Khan studied at Hansraj College Delhi from 1985-1988 and earned his Graduation Degree with a major in Economics. Regardless of the fact that Khan pursued his Mass Communication degree at Jamia Millia Islamia University, he decided to make his appearance in Bollywood film industry. In the year 1991, Shah Rukh Khan settled in Mumbai pursuing the death of his parents. This marked his entrance into the silver screen.

In later part of 1980s, Shah Rukh Khan initiated his career as an actor in a number of television serials. He first seemed as a hero in the movie Deewana, which was released in the year 1992. He also won a Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut for this movie. Henceforth, there was no looking back for this brilliant actor. Shah Rukh starred in a number of movies that have become famed amongst all age groups.

A few of the most popular movies in which he acted are as follows: Darr, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Chak De! India, Om Shanti Om, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Chak De India and Veer Zaara. Shah Rukh Khan is the recipient of 14 Filmfare Awards for his influence to Hindi movies and 8 of them were received under Best Actor category which is an incomparable feat.

Check out exclusive ➡ facts about Shah Rukh Khan .

Shah Rukh Khan Education

Qualification: Masters degree in Mass Communications (Film making)

School: St. Columba’s School, Delhi

College: Hansraj College, University of Delhi, Delhi Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi

Shah Rukh Khan Career

Profession: Actor, Producer

Known For: Known as Mr. King Khan

TV Debut: Fauji (1989)

Film Debut: Deewana (1992)

Net Worth: $800 million

Family & Relatives

Father: Late Taj Mohammad Khan (Businessman)

Mother: Late Lateef Fatima (Magistrate, Social Worker)

Brother: Ifthikar Ahmed (chief engineer of the port in the 1960s)

Sister: Shahnaz Lalarukh (Elder)

Marital Status: Married

Wife: Gauri Khan (Producer)

No. of Children: 3

Son: Aryan Khan

Daughter: Suhana Khan

Facts You Never Knew About Shah Rukh Khan

• Shah Rukh Khan was born in a middle class family as his father was associated with a transport business and mother was a judge.
• During an TV interview, Shah Rukh revealed that his Mom was a South-Indian and purely belonged to Andhra Pradesh though later moved towards Karnataka.
• Shah Rukh Khan is a real food buff and crazy for Raan Roast and Tandoori Chicken, once he told that he can eat Tandoori Chicken more than 365 days.
• He also did small roles in Television serials named Wagle Ki Duniya, Umeed, or even in an English Tele film titled In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones.
• After his Mom’s death in the year1991, he settled in Mumbai together with his sister.
• King Khan was afterwards casted in back-to-back movies named Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Chamatkar, King Uncle, Maya Memsaab, Darr, Baazigar and also a cameo appearance in Pehla Nasha.
• Even though he doesn’t stutter in his real life, his dialogue, I love you KKK Kiran from the film Darr became an all-time favorite hit.

Related Video

Who is Shah Rukh Khan?

Shah Rukh Khan is an Indian actor, producer, born on 02 November, 1965 in New Delhi, India.

How old is Shah Rukh Khan?

Shah Rukh Khan is 58 years old as of April 2024.

How tall is Shah Rukh Khan?

Shah Rukh Khan is 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m).

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wow, a long list of awards he has won. Amazing

Dear Mr. Shah Rukh Please accept my heartiest Eid ul Adha mubarak I pray for your good health, success and prosperity.

Best Regards

Rukhshab Anjum (Karachi – Pakistan)

Very interested i love shahrukkhan

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