Unconventionally good looking, exuberant, energetic, and multi-faceted are just the right words to describe the very popular actor, producer, playback singer, and TV anchor, Shahrukh Khan. He is one of the most popular and loved Bollywood stars, who has been compared to the likes of legendary actors Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan. He has reigned Bollywood since early 1990s and with his never-say-die attitude and love for movies he is expected to stay at the top for long. His life has been just like one of his melodramatic family movies with happiness, love, pain, success, failures, and more success.
Shahrukh Khan was born on the 2nd of November, 1965. He was brought up with his sister Shehnaz, lovingly known as Lalarukh, by their Muslim, pathan parents. His parents were originally from Pakistan but were based in Delhi’s Rajinder Nagar area post partition.
Very bright and energetic as a child, Shahrukh Khan was an all-rounder during his school days at St. Columbus. His school applauded his excellence in academics, sports, and extra-curricular activities (obviously read ‘drama’!) by awarding him the Sword of Honour. He completed schooling in 1985 and joined Economics (Hons.) course in the well-known Hansraj college, Delhi University. He was actively involved in the college dramatics society. Apart from college and dramatics, another thing that he was actively involved in was the love of his life, Gauri Chibber. He met Gauri, about five years younger to him and now his wife, at a common party. After a long affair and almost a Dilwale Dulhaniye Le Jaenge kind of ‘wooing the family’ gig Shahrukh finally married Gauri in 1991. During the period between 1988 and 1991, he was involved in his Mass communication (Film making) course at Jamia Milia Islamiya University for a year and doing theater with Barry John. This was approximately the same time at which he began his career as an actor.
Not many people would know but Shahrukh Khan’s first occupation was as a restaurateur. He opened up a small restaurant in Darya Gang area of Delhi but fortunately called quits and chose acting. Shahrukh Khan started his inimitable acting innings on television with an inconsequential role in the serial Dil Dariya as a Sikh boy. Dil Dariya was followed by a more powerful and noticeable performance in the serial Fauji in 1988. A few more serials, such as Circus, followed Fuaji until Shahrukh Khan got his first golden chance in bollywood through the movies Deewana and Dil Ashna Hai in 1992.
Deewana went along to become a hit and Shahrukh Khan hit it off with the audience. The emotion-packed performances in Dil Ashna Hai, Deewana, and Chamatkar were followed by the power-packed performances in negative roles in the movies Darr, Anjaam, and Baazigar. Baazigon got him the much coveted Filmfare award for the best actor – his first claim to fame in the popular cinema category! Very early in his career, apart from the masses, he also became a favorite with the critics with movies such as Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa. His fan following increased manifolds in 1995 with the inimitable love saga Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaenge. Success followed in the form of some memorable movies from 1997 to 2006, such as Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dil Se, Devdas, Main Hoon Na, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, and Don.
A few flops were also a part of his career but his fans must have forgotten those in comparison to the superhits that he has delivered. His much awaited movie in 2007 is Chak De India in which he carries a new mature look as the coach of the Women’s hockey team of India – the promos of the movie sure seem promising as ever! Over his acting career spanning over 15 years, he has probably won awards in all suitable categories – best debut, best actor, best actor (critic), and best villain. The love that his fans bestow upon him became evident when he was voted as the most searched for Bollywood actor on the Internet! He has also won awards and recognition at national level, which include Rajiv Gandhi Award for Excellence in the Field of Entertainment and the Padma Shri. At the international level, his popularity became evident when his wax statute was set up at the respectable Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.
While Shahrukh Khan’s career was climbing the ladder of success with every passing year, on the family front his happiness knew no bounds when Aryan and Suhana were born to Shahrukh and Gauri Khan in 1997 and 2000 respectively. A doting, protective, and indulgent father, Shahrukh Khan was recently in news for gifting a luxury car to his son. Although family life has been full of pleasure for him his health has not really been with him. He was operated for a severe back and neck problem in London a few years back. The blessings and love of his fans find him in good health today with his never ending flow of energy.
Acting is not Sharukh Khan’s only forte. He has also set up twp production houses Dreamz Unlimited and Red Chillies Entertainment. Dreamz Unlimited was setup in collaboration with Juhi Chawla and Aziz Mirza and produced movies including Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, Asoka and Chalte Chalte. Kaal and Paheli were the products of Red Chillies Entertainment. Shakrukh Khan’s love for versatility also encouraged him to sing in his movies Josh and Don. His fans loved his deep uncanny way of signing was as much appreciated by his fans as his acting – after all it was the king of Bollywood singing! Not many would know that he has also directed stunts for some of his movies including Main Hoon Na, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, and the upcoming Chak De India.
Shahrukh khan is an actor par excellence and loved by millions of fans across the world. He recently returned to television with the extremely popular show Kaun Banega Crorepati, as Amitabh Bachchan’s successor. Despite comparisons with his predecessor, criticism, he managed to impress the television audience just as he had done during his Fauji days. His charm and zeal defies the conventional image of a successful hero in Indian cinema and has made him one of the most popular personalities in the world. The saddest incidents of his life have been the death of his father in 1981 and mother in 1991. Although the loss cannot be compensated but it is their blessings for their talented son that have brought him this far and will keep him going.
