Shah Rukh to receive honorary doctorate from British university

New Delhi, June 27 (IANS) Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has been nominated to receive an honorary doctorate in arts and culture from Britain's University of Bedfordshire.

Shah Rukh, the first foreign actor to be conferred the Malaysian title of Datuk - akin to a British knighthood - last year, will receive his first doctorate July 10.

The actor was chosen for the doctorate by NGO Routes to Roots, a member of the World Association of Non-Governmental Organization (WANGO) that works closely with universities and educational trusts in various countries, said a press release.

'I am delighted that Routes to Roots nominated me for the honorary doctorate in arts and culture from the Bedfordshire University, Britain, and it will be my pleasure to receive it personally July 10 in London,' said Shah Rukh.

Routes to Roots is a non-profit charitable organisation and endeavours to bring people and cultures together across the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) countries in general and India and Pakistan in particular. Actor Juhi Chawla and filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt are among its patrons.

'Shah Rukh Khan was selected by us after careful study since he has his head and heart at the right place in spite of being crowned the king of Bollywood. The superstar has done immense work for the underprivileged and downtrodden and has always come forward for charities in case of natural disasters,' said Tina Vachani, co-founder, Routes to Roots.

According to Rakesh Gupta, who is also with the NGO: 'Indian students at the university would love to have the youth icon Shah Rukh to be a fellow alumni once he receives his doctorate.'