Who Is Shah Rukh Khan Anyways? Here’s His Bio!

Of course, he needs no introduction… his face is iconic, and his name is a household word, not just in his home country but throughout the entire globe. Shahrukh Khan, the beloved “Badshah of Bollywood,” is considered by many critics to be the top Indian actor of the last two decades.
His versatility – as a romantic hero, a dark villian, a dramatic interpreter, a comedic talent, and a physical actor of compelling power – has been proven throughout his long career.
And SRK, as his fans call him, just keeps on getting better. To add to his repertoire of more than 70 Hindi films, he is also a film producer and television host.
The Early Years
Yet Shahrukh did not come out of a Bollywood family, which perhaps endears him even more to people of all walks of life, no matter where his movies are shown. Born in New Delhi in 1965, his Muslim parents were not connected with film or entertainment. Taj Mohammed Khan, his father, was an Indian independence activist, and his mother, Lateef Fatima, was the adopted daughter of a Major General in the Indian National Army.

Today his elder sister Shehnaz works with SRK, but in those early days no one (except perhaps Shahrukh himself and his mother) knew he was destined for stardom.
Shahrukh attended St. Columba’s School and excelled in sports, drama, and academics, earning the “Sword of Honour,” a special award for the student who best represents the values and spirit of St Columba’s.

At Hansraj College he obtained his Bachelors Degree in Economics with honors, and even pursued a Masters Degree in Mass Communications at Jamia Millia Islamiam. But soon the call of Bollywood, and the tragic death of his parents, drew Shahrukh to Mumbai in 1991.
SRK’s Acting Life
Sharukh took his acting career very seriously, and studied under celebrated Theatre Director Barry John at Delhi’s TAG (Theatre Action Group). His acting debut was in the television series, Fauji, and he soon appeared in other television serials like Aziz Mirza’s Circus.

Shahrukh’s screen presence and acting ability did not go unnoticed, and he was soon  compared to the iconic actor Dilip Kumar.

In 1991 Shahrukh married his sweetheart Gauri Chibber, a Hindu, in a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony. This was before any of his films were released, and today their two children, son Aryan (1997) and daughter Suhana (2000) are the center of their lives. Shahrukh has always been open-minded about religion. Even though SRK believes in Allah strongly, he respects his wife’s beliefs and has taught his children to value both faiths, giving the world a wonderful example of religious tolerance and spiritual respect.

Breakthrough Roles

Then came SRK’s breakthrough film role in Deewana in 1992. His stunning performance captured the hearts of audiences and he was propelled into the spotlight. Even without the traditional film family behind him, he pursued his goal of becoming a solo hero, appearing in several films during the 1990s and taking on some critically acclaimed villain roles.

With a film called Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) in 1995, Shahrukh Khan really came into his own. DDLJ is still one of the most loved Indian films, and after 16 years is still being shown in a theater in Mumbai, such is the popularity of its story and star. His screen charisma really shines in this film, and it made SRK a household name, started his amazing fan base, and led to many box office hits that continue to the present.

But Shahrukh soon showed he was more than a romantic lead, and demonstrated his great range as an actor. It would take pages to list his many films and the extraordinary scope of his talent, so suffice to say he has shown he can command the screen in a wide range of roles: from a NASA scientist, to a hockey coach, to an ancient king, to a man with Asperger’s syndrome… SRK is constantly challenging himself.

With this kind of versatility, it’s easy to imagine him as G.One: father, husband, and superhero all rolled into one!

                                                                       A Love For Entertainment

And there is even more to SRK’s deep love for and commitment to the entertainment industry. In his production company, Dreamz Unlimited he has teamed up with Juhi Chawla and director Aziz Mirza, creating films like Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, Asoka and Chalte Chalte.

With his Red Chillies Entertainment he produced and starred in many films, including Paheli, India’s official entry to the Academy Awards, the delightful Om Shanti Om, the eagerly awaited Don 2: The Chase Continues… and of course Ra.One, arguably the most anticipated Bollywood film of 2011. And much to the delight of Shahrukh’s son Anayan, Red Chillies Entertainment is the owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders.

SRK has also been the subject of a two-part documentary called “The Inner and Outer World of Shah Rukh Khan,” which contrasts his public life and concert tour with his personal world of family. He is also the subject of several books, most notably “King of Bollywood: Shahrukh Khan and the Seductive World of Indian Cinema” by the highly respected film critic Anupama Chopra.

As if all of this wasn’t enough to make SRK a “Badshah,” there are his many awards. He has been honored with the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award, the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of the Arts and Literature) from the French government, the Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (similar to a knighthood) from Malacca in Malaysia, and an Honorary Doctorate in Arts and Culture from Britain’s University of Bedfordshire.

You can also add to this his many Filmfare Awards, the wax figures in Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, London and  Musée Grévin in Paris, the statues in Hong Kong and New York.

So beyond enjoying his films – and anticipating Ra.one with all of us – we hope you’ve gotten to know Shahrukh Khan a little bit better now!