Shah Rukh Khan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shah Rukh Khan
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Khan in 2018
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Shahrukh Khan
2 November 1965 New Delhi, India
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| Alma mater | Hansraj College (BA) |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1988–present |
| Organisation | Red Chillies Entertainment Knight Riders Group |
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Works
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 3, including Aryan and Suhana |
| Awards | Full list |
| Honours | Padma Shri (2005) Order of Arts and Letters (2007) Legion of Honour (2014) |
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Shah Rukh Khan (born 2 November 1965), also known as SRK, is a famous Indian actor and film producer. He works mainly in Hindi cinema, which is often called Bollywood. People in the media call him the "Baadshah of Bollywood" or "King Khan" because he is so popular.
Shah Rukh Khan has been in over 100 films and has won many awards, including 14 Filmfare Awards. The Indian government gave him the Padma Shri award, and the French government honored him with the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and the Legion of Honour. He has a huge fan base in Asia and among Indians living all over the world. Many media groups say he is one of the most successful film stars globally, based on how many people watch his movies and how much money they make. His films often explore themes like Indian identity and connections with Indian communities living abroad.
Khan started his career in the late 1980s on television. He made his first Bollywood movie, Deewana, in 1992. At first, he was known for playing characters who were not always the good guy in films like Baazigar (1993) and Darr (1993). Later, he became famous for starring in many successful romantic films. These include Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Mohabbatein (2000), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001), Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), Veer-Zaara (2004), and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006).
He also played a hockey coach in Chak De! India (2007) and a man with Asperger syndrome in My Name Is Khan (2010). Other successful films include the romances Om Shanti Om (2007) and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008), and comedies like Chennai Express (2013) and Happy New Year (2014). After a short break, Khan made a big comeback in 2023 with the action thrillers Pathaan and Jawan. Both of these movies are among the highest-earning Indian films ever.
Since 2015, Khan has been a co-chairman of Red Chillies Entertainment, a film production company. He also co-owns the Indian Premier League cricket team Kolkata Knight Riders and the Caribbean Premier League team Trinbago Knight Riders. Because he endorses many brands and has many business ventures, the media often calls him "Brand SRK". He also hosts TV shows and performs on stage. Khan helps people through his charity work, providing healthcare and disaster relief. He received the UNESCO Pyramide con Marni award in 2011 for supporting children's education. In 2018, he received the World Economic Forum's Crystal Award for supporting women's and children's rights in India. He is often listed as one of the most influential people in Indian culture. In 2008, Newsweek magazine named him one of the 50 most powerful people in the world. In 2022, Empire magazine readers voted him one of the 50 greatest actors of all time. In 2023, Time magazine included him in their list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Contents
Early Life and Family Background
His Parents and Family
Shah Rukh Khan's father, Mir Taj Mohammed Khan, was an Indian independence activist. He worked to free India from British rule and was part of a nonviolent movement. Mir was also a cousin of Shah Nawaz Khan, a major general in the Indian National Army. Khan's paternal grandfather, Mir Jan Muhammad Khan, was from Afghanistan. However, his cousins in Peshawar later said their family is from Kashmir and speaks Hindko, not Pashto. In 1946, Mir moved to Delhi to study law. When India was divided in 1947, he had to stay in Delhi.
Khan's mother, Lateef Fatima, was a magistrate. Her father was a senior government engineer. His parents got married in 1959.
Growing Up and Education
Khan was born on 2 November 1965, into a Muslim family in New Delhi. He lived in Mangalore for his first five years, where his grandfather worked as a chief engineer. Khan has described himself as "half Hyderabadi (mother), half Pathan (father), and some Kashmiri (grandmother)".
He grew up in the Rajendra Nagar area of New Delhi. His family lived a middle-class life. Khan went to St. Columba's School where he was good at studies and sports like hockey and football. He even won the school's highest award, the Sword of Honour. At first, Khan wanted to be a sports player, but a shoulder injury stopped him. Instead, he started acting in plays and was praised for imitating Bollywood actors.
Khan studied economics at Hansraj College from 1985 to 1988. He spent a lot of time at Delhi's Theatre Action Group, learning acting from director Barry John. After college, he started a master's degree in mass communication but left to focus on acting. He also attended the National School of Drama in Delhi.
His father passed away from cancer in 1981, and his mother died in 1991 from diabetes. After his parents' deaths, his older sister, Shahnaz Lalarukh, became depressed. Khan took care of her, and she still lives with him and his family in their Mumbai home.
Acting Career Highlights
Early TV Roles and Film Debut (1988–1992)
Khan's first big role was in the TV series Dil Dariya in 1988. But because of production delays, the 1989 series Fauji became his first TV show to air. In Fauji, he played the main character, Abhimanyu Rai, an army cadet. He also had small roles in other TV shows like Umeed (1989) and Wagle Ki Duniya (1988–90). Critics compared his acting style to film actor Dilip Kumar. At first, Khan wasn't interested in movies, thinking he wasn't good enough.
In April 1991, Khan decided to act in films to cope with the sadness of his mother's death. He moved from Delhi to Mumbai to become a full-time Bollywood actor. He quickly signed up for four films. His first movie offer was for Hema Malini's Dil Aashna Hai. His first film to be released was Deewana in June 1992. He starred alongside Divya Bharti and Rishi Kapoor. Deewana was a big hit and started Khan's Bollywood career. He won the Filmfare Best Male Debut Award for his role. In 1992, he also starred in Chamatkar, Dil Aashna Hai, and the comedy Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman. This last film was his first of many with actress Juhi Chawla. In his early roles, Khan showed a lot of energy and excitement.
Playing Different Characters (1993–1994)
In 1993, Khan gained a lot of attention for playing characters who were not the typical heroes in two successful films: a complex character in Baazigar and an intense lover in Darr. In Baazigar, Khan played a character who sought revenge. His performance in Baazigar, which was his first film with actress Kajol, won him his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor. In Darr, Khan's unique way of speaking and his famous line "I love you, K-k-k-Kiran" became very popular. He was nominated for the Best Villain Award for Darr.
In 1994, Khan played a musician in Kundan Shah's comedy-drama Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa. He later said this was his favorite role. His performance won him a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance. Also in 1994, Khan won the Filmfare Best Villain Award for his role in Anjaam, where he starred with Madhuri Dixit. At that time, playing characters who were not heroes was considered risky for lead actors in Hindi cinema. But Khan took these risks and helped build his career.
Becoming a Romantic Hero (1995–1998)
In 1995, Khan starred in seven films. One of the most important was Rakesh Roshan's thriller Karan Arjun, which was the second-highest-grossing film that year. His most significant release was Aditya Chopra's first film as a director, the romance Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. In this movie, he played a young Indian living abroad who falls in love with Kajol's character during a trip to Europe. This film made him a "romantic hero". It was loved by critics and audiences and became the highest-grossing film of the year in India and overseas. It is the longest-running film in Indian cinema history, still showing in a Mumbai theater after more than 1000 weeks by early 2015. The film won ten Filmfare Awards, including Khan's second Best Actor Award.
In 1996, four of Khan's films did not do well. But in 1997, his role in Aziz Mirza's romantic comedy Yes Boss earned him a Filmfare Best Actor nomination. Later in 1997, he starred in Subhash Ghai's drama Pardes, playing a musician. India Today said it was one of the first major Bollywood films to do well in the United States. Khan's last film of 1997 was his second with Yash Chopra, the musical romance Dil To Pagal Hai. He played Rahul, a stage director in a love triangle. This film and his performance received great reviews, winning Khan his third Best Actor Award at Filmfare.
In 1998, Khan played the main role in three films and had a special appearance in one. In his first film of the year, Duplicate, he played a double role. This was his first of many collaborations with Yash Johar's production company Dharma Productions. The film was not very popular, but India Today praised Khan's energetic acting. That same year, Khan was praised for his role as a radio reporter who becomes interested in a mysterious character in Dil Se... In his last film of the year, he played a college student in Karan Johar's romance Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. He was part of a love triangle with Kajol and Rani Mukerji. This film was a huge success in the 1990s. Khan won the Best Actor award at the Filmfare Awards for the second year in a row.
The roles he played during this time, especially in romantic comedies and family dramas, made Khan very popular with audiences, especially teenagers. He became a symbol of romance in India. He often worked with Yash Chopra, Aditya Chopra, and Karan Johar, who helped him become a superstar.
Career Changes and Successes (1999–2003)
In 1999, Khan's only film was Baadshah. It didn't do very well at the box office, but he was nominated for a Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role. In 1999, Khan also became a producer with actress Juhi Chawla and director Aziz Mirza, forming a company called Dreamz Unlimited. Their first film, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (2000), starring Khan and Chawla, was not a commercial success. Khan also had a supporting role in Kamal Haasan's Hey Ram (2000), where he played an archaeologist. He worked for free because he wanted to work with Haasan.
In 2001, Dreamz Unlimited tried again with Khan playing the main role in Santosh Sivan's historical film Aśoka, which was about the life of Emperor Ashoka. The film was shown at film festivals and received good reviews, but it didn't do well in India. Because of financial losses, Khan had to close srkworld.com, a company he started with Dreamz Unlimited. In December 2001, Khan hurt his spine while filming an action scene. He was diagnosed with a prolapsed disc and tried many treatments. By early 2003, his condition got worse, and he had surgery in London. Khan started filming again in June 2003 but decided to take on fewer film roles each year.
During this time, he had successes with Aditya Chopra's Mohabbatein (2000) and Karan Johar's family drama Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001). Khan says Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... was a turning point in his career. Both films starred Amitabh Bachchan as a strong father figure, showing conflicts between the two men. Khan's performances were very popular, and he won his second Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor for Mohabbatein. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... was the highest-earning Indian film overseas for five years.
In 2002, Khan played the main role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's romance Devdas, with Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit. It was the most expensive Bollywood film at the time and became a box office success, earning about $35 million worldwide. The film won many awards, including 10 Filmfare Awards, with Best Actor for Khan. Khan then starred in Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), a comedy-drama set in New York City. It was the second-highest-grossing film in India and the top-grossing Bollywood film overseas that year. Khan received praise for playing Aman Mathur, a man with a serious heart condition.
Major Successes and New Roles (2004–2009)
2004 was a very successful year for Khan. He changed Dreamz Unlimited into Red Chillies Entertainment, with his wife Gauri as a producer. Their first film, Main Hoon Na, was directed by Farah Khan. It was a story about India–Pakistan relations. Khan then played an Indian Air Force pilot who falls in love with a Pakistani woman in Yash Chopra's romance Veer-Zaara. This film was shown at the Berlin International Film Festival and received good reviews. It was the highest-earning film of 2004 in India, and Main Hoon Na was the second-highest.
In his last film of 2004, Khan played a NASA scientist who returns to India in Ashutosh Gowariker's drama Swades (meaning "Homeland"). This was the first Indian film to be shot inside the NASA research center in Florida. Many critics believed this was one of his best acting performances. He was nominated for the Filmfare Best Actor Award for all three of his 2004 films and won for Swades.
In 2005, Khan starred in Amol Palekar's fantasy drama, Paheli. This film was India's entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 79th Academy Awards. He then worked with Karan Johar again in the musical romantic drama Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006). This film, with a big cast including Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukerji, became India's highest-grossing film overseas. Khan also starred in the action film Don, a remake of a 1978 film. Both roles earned him Best Actor nominations at the Filmfare Awards.
In 2007, Khan played a hockey player who coaches the Indian women's national hockey team to World Cup success in Chak De! India. Khan, who played hockey for his university, was praised for his realistic portrayal. He won another Filmfare Award for Best Actor for this role. In the same year, Khan starred in Farah Khan's Om Shanti Om, playing a 1970s junior artist who is reborn as a superstar. This film became the highest-grossing Indian movie of 2007.
Khan worked with Aditya Chopra again on the romantic drama Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008) with newcomer Anushka Sharma. He played Surinder Sahni, a shy man who transforms into a lively alter-ego named Raj for his wife. In December 2008, Khan hurt his shoulder while filming. He had surgery in February 2009. He also made a special appearance in the 2009 film Billu, playing a Bollywood superstar, a fictional version of himself.
Action, Comedy, and Comeback (2010–Present)
After turning down a role in Slumdog Millionaire (2008), Khan started filming My Name Is Khan (2010). This was his fourth film with director Karan Johar and sixth with Kajol. The film is based on a true story and is set after the 11 September attacks. Khan plays Rizwan Khan, a Muslim man with mild Asperger syndrome who travels across America to meet the president. To play the role accurately, Khan spent months researching Asperger syndrome. My Name is Khan became one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films outside India. Khan won his eighth Filmfare Award for Best Actor, tying the record with actor Dilip Kumar.
In 2011, Khan starred in Anubhav Sinha's superhero film Ra.One, his first movie in this genre. He did it as a favor to his children. The film was about a video game villain who escapes into the real world. It was one of Bollywood's most expensive productions and was a financial success. Khan played a dual role, receiving mixed reviews for his portrayal of the robotic superhero G.One and the video game designer Shekhar. Khan's second film of 2011 was Don 2, a sequel to Don (2006). He trained a lot and did most of his own stunts. Critics praised his performance. It was the highest-grossing Bollywood film abroad that year.
Khan's only film in 2012 was Yash Chopra's last movie, the romantic drama Jab Tak Hai Jaan. He played a romantic role again, starring with Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma. Critics thought his performance was one of his best. Jab Tak Hai Jaan was a financial success.
In 2013, Khan starred in Rohit Shetty's action comedy Chennai Express. The film received mixed reviews and some criticism for how it portrayed South Indian culture. However, the film broke many box office records for Hindi films, becoming the highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time for a short period. In 2014, Khan starred in Farah Khan's action comedy Happy New Year. Although his character was criticized, the film was a big commercial success.
Recent Films and Hiatus (2015–2022)
Khan next appeared in Rohit Shetty's action comedy Dilwale (2015) with Kajol. The film received mixed reviews but was financially successful. He then played dual roles of a superstar and his fan in Fan (2016). Critics found the film interesting, but it did not perform well at the box office. Later that year, Khan played a therapist in Dear Zindagi.
In Rahul Dholakia's action crime film Raees (2017), Khan played a bootlegger who becomes a mobster. The film was a moderate success. Khan returned to romantic films with Jab Harry Met Sejal (2017), playing a tourist guide who falls in love with a traveler. He reunited with Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif in Aanand L Rai's romantic drama Zero (2018), where he played a dwarf. Both Jab Harry Met Sejal and Zero were not successful at the box office.
After Zero, Khan took a four-year break from acting, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic in India. He used this time to plan a career comeback. During this break, he made special appearances in the 2022 films Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva and Rocketry: The Nambi Effect.
Big Comeback (2023–Present)
In 2023, Khan returned to acting with the action thriller Pathaan. He played an exiled field agent trying to stop a terrorist attack in India. Critics praised Khan's performance, noting his "weathered intensity" and "charisma". Pathaan broke many box-office records, proving Khan's stardom was back. Khan then starred in another action film, Jawan, playing both a father and son. Critics said Khan's "expansive, loving, heroic" screen image helped make the film a success. Jawan broke the records set by Pathaan. Both films earned over ₹10 billion, making Khan the first Indian actor to have two films earn that much worldwide.
In his last film of 2023, Khan starred in Rajkumar Hirani's Dunki, a drama about illegal immigration. This film was Khan's third successful movie of the year, though it didn't earn as much as Pathaan or Jawan.
Other Work and Ventures
Film Production and TV Hosting
Khan helped produce three films from 1999 to 2003 with Dreamz Unlimited. After that company ended, he and his wife Gauri started Red Chillies Entertainment. This company produces films and TV shows, visual effects, and advertising. By 2015, the company had produced or co-produced at least nine films. Khan often stars in these films himself. Khan was very involved in making Ra.One (2011). Besides acting, he produced it, wrote the video game script, did voiceovers, and oversaw its technical development. Khan has also sung songs for his films, like "Apun Bola Tu Meri Laila" in Josh (2000).
Besides his early TV shows, Khan has hosted many awards ceremonies, including the Filmfare, Zee Cine, and Screen Awards. In 2007, he hosted Kaun Banega Crorepati, the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. A year later, he hosted Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain?, the Indian version of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?. In 2011, he appeared on Zor Ka Jhatka: Total Wipeout, the Indian version of Wipeout. In 2017, Khan started hosting TED Talks India Nayi Soch, a talk show produced by TED Conferences, LLC.
Stage Performances
Khan often performs on stage and has been part of many world tours and concerts. In 1997, he performed in a concert in Malaysia. The next year, he toured the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States with Juhi Chawla, Akshay Kumar, and Kajol. In 2002, Khan performed with Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai in a show in Manchester and London, which over 100,000 people attended. In 2010, he performed in a concert in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The next year, he joined Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra in a concert in South Africa.
Khan also started the "Temptations" series of concert tours. In Temptations 2004, he sang, danced, and performed skits with other Bollywood stars in 22 cities worldwide. In 2008, Khan started Temptation Reloaded, a series of concerts that toured several countries. More tours were held in Jakarta in 2012 and in Auckland, Perth, and Sydney in 2013. In 2014, Khan performed in SLAM! The Tour in the US, Canada, and London.
Owning the Kolkata Knight Riders Cricket Team
In 2008, Khan, with Juhi Chawla and her husband Jay Mehta, bought the rights for the cricket team representing Kolkata in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for $75.09 million. They named the team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). By 2009, KKR was one of the richest teams in the IPL. The team didn't do well in the first three years. But their performance improved, and they won the championship in 2012 and again in 2014. The Knight Riders hold the record for the longest winning streak by any Indian team in T20 cricket (14 wins). They won their third IPL title in 2024.
Khan performed at the opening ceremony of the IPL 2011 season. He appeared again in 2013 with Katrina Kaif and Deepika Padukone.
Shah Rukh Khan in the Media
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Shah Rukh Khan gets a lot of media attention in India. He is often called "King Khan," "The Baadshah of Bollywood," or "The King of Bollywood." He is a constant celebrity, with new films, TV ads, and billboards appearing regularly. He has a huge fan base, estimated to be over a billion people. Newsweek named Khan one of the fifty most powerful people globally in 2008, calling him "the world's biggest movie star." In 2011, he was described as "the biggest movie star you've never heard of...perhaps the world's biggest movie star, period" by the Los Angeles Times. A survey found that 3.2 billion people worldwide know Khan, more than those who know Tom Cruise. In 2022, Empire magazine readers voted Khan one of the 50 greatest actors of all time. In 2023, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Khan is one of the wealthiest celebrities in India. He topped Forbes India's "Celebrity 100 list" in 2012, 2013, and 2015. His wealth is estimated to be between $400–600 million. Khan owns several properties in India and other countries, including an apartment in London and a villa in Dubai. From 2023–2024, Khan was the highest tax payer in India.
Khan often appears on lists of the most popular, stylish, and influential people in India. He is often called "Brand SRK" by the media because of his many brand endorsements and business ventures. He is one of the highest-paid Bollywood endorsers and is very visible in TV advertising. Khan has endorsed brands like Pepsi, Nokia, Hyundai, and TAG Heuer. Books have been written about him, and his popularity has been shown in non-fiction films, including the documentary The Inner and Outer World of Shah Rukh Khan (2005). In 2007, Khan became the third Indian actor to have his wax statue at London's Madame Tussauds museum.
Khan has been a brand ambassador for various government campaigns, including Pulse Polio and the National AIDS Control Organisation. He is on the board of directors for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in India. In 2011, he was appointed as the first global ambassador for the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council. He has made public service announcements about good health and nutrition and joined a child immunization campaign. In 2011, he received UNESCO's Pyramide con Marni award for his charity work in children's education, being the first Indian to win it. In 2014, Khan became an ambassador for Interpol's "Turn Back Crime" campaign. In 2015, he received an honorary degree from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. In 2018, Khan was honored by the World Economic Forum for his leadership in supporting children's and women's rights in India.
In October 2019, Khan was in a video launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to honor Mahatma Gandhi. Khan's unique voice and style have inspired many imitators. In the Hindi version of the cartoon series Oggy and the Cockroaches, a voice actor imitates Khan's voice for the character Oggy.
In April 2020, Khan announced several efforts to help the Indian government and state governments during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also provided relief for thousands of people affected by the lockdown. He offered his personal office space to be used as a quarantine center for coronavirus patients.
Awards and Recognitions
Khan is one of the most awarded Bollywood actors. He has received 14 Filmfare Awards from 30 nominations, including eight for Best Actor. He shares the record for most wins in this category with Dilip Kumar. Khan has won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his roles in Baazigar (1993), Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Devdas (2002), Swades (2004), Chak De! India (2007), and My Name Is Khan (2010).
Although he has never won a National Film Award, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri in 2005. The Government of France has given him both the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2007) and the Legion of Honour (2014). Khan has received five honorary doctorates from different universities around the world.
Personal Life
Khan married Gauri Chibber in a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony on 25 October 1991, after dating for six years. They have a son, Aryan (born 1997), and a daughter, Suhana (born 2000). In 2013, they had a third child named AbRam, who was born through a surrogate mother. Both of his older children are interested in the entertainment industry. Khan has said that Aryan wants to be a writer-director, and Suhana is studying drama and acting. Suhana made her acting debut in November 2019 in a short film. Khan believes strongly in Islam, but he also respects his wife's Hindu religion. His children follow both religions; at his home, the Qur'an is placed next to statues of Hindu gods.
Although his birth name was Shahrukh Khan, he prefers his name to be written as Shah Rukh Khan. He is commonly known by his initials, SRK.
In 2024, Khan was named one of "The 10 Most Handsome Men in the World."
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See also
In Spanish: Shahrukh Khan para niños
- Khans of Bollywood
- List of awards and nominations received by Shah Rukh Khan
