They call him King Khan.
He's been around for about 16 years now, playing stammering lovers and psychotic baddies with equal ease. And he's done it all his way.
Today, November 2, Shah Rukh Khan turns 41.
Don is a semi-hit
A still from Don
Shah Rukh Khan beat Salman Khan this Diwali/Eid.
Don got twice as good an opening as Jaan-E-Mann in India -- Don made Rs 14.68 crore and Jaan-E-Mann made Rs 7.63 crore in the first week -- and great collections in the US and UK.
But beating Salman isn't enough. Compared to traditional Diwali blockbusters, Don couldn't really bring in the crowds -- the film can only be declared a semi-hit. Farhan Akhtar's film got a great opening but reviews and word of mouth criticism made sure collections dipped sharply after the first few days.
Last Diwali was also bad for Salman as his Kyon Ki flopped, but Akshay has been having a blast during the festival season with Aitraaz and Garam Masala topping the charts over the last two years.
Jaan-E-Mann reuinited producer Sajid Nadiadwala with Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar, but Shirish Kunder's directorial debut couldn't repeat the magic of David Dhawan's Mujhse Shaadi Karogi.
"One of the films had to take a good start and it proved to be Don and not Jaan-E-Mann," says film trade analyst, Vinod Mirani.
The curiosity factor worked for SRK as audiences wondered how he'd measure up to Amitabh Bachchan in the 1978 classic. As a result, masses queued outside theatres for Don leaving Jaan-E-Mann tickets up for grabs.
"The problem came because Jaan-e-Mann was a very family film and Don was for masses and youngsters," explains Mirani. "The family crowd preferred to keep indoors and celebrate Diwali whereas masses opted for Don."
Both films also faced trouble as the month of Ramzan was not over, and it was only after four days -- on October 24 and 25 -- when Eid was celebrated that many Muslims came out to see the film, most of the community staying indoors during the holy month.
Both releases were big films, costing around Rs 25-30 crores. In the final count, both films disappointed."Shah Rukh's film got a good opening in the first week and became a success. Nobody will lose money on Don and the film is a semi-hit in the second week," says trade analyst Amod Mehra. "However, that is not the case with Jaan-e-Mann as the film has flopped. The distributors will lose 30-40 percent in every circuit for the film."
After Eid, Jaan-e-Mann picked up but it was too late. "Unfortunately here too, Jaan-e-Mann didn't sustain for long and could do good business only for a day or two and then it dropped badly," added Mehra.
Shah Rukh Khan has been reigning Bollywood for over a decade now. This charming actor with 'the midas touch' has thousands of girls 'swarming' over him like bees! Young boys imitate his style and consider him their 'role-model'. In fact he has even been compared to the legendary Dilip Kumar. SRK's looks are not captivating enough to move mountains! Inspite of that, he is one of the most adored and respected actors in the industry. What is it that sets him apart?
SRK - childhood
Born in a Muslim family in Delhi on November 2nd, 1965, Shahrukh Khan was always a very cheerful and enthusiastic child. As a child, he would mimic film actress Mumtaz and recite shaayri (Urdu poetry) for his father.
Shah Rukh's mother (Fatima Begum) was educated at Oxford, worked as a social worker and a magistrate while his father (Taj Khan) was a chief engineer. The couple met incidentally under strange circumstances. Injured in a car accident, Shah Rukh's mother needed blood. His father who happened to be at the hospital at that time gave her blood. They eventually fell in love and married. With an elder sister, Shehnaz, Shah Rukh claims to have had a decent childhood. Though the family did go through financial problems, his parents made sure that the kids did not suffer.
| < = src="http://ads1.indiainfo.com/adx.js" =text/> < = =text/> |
Shah Rukh did his high school from St. Columbia High School and later went to Stephens College. However, he left the college after a year and joined Hansraj College, Delhi University. After his graduation, he followed it up with a Masters Degree in Mass Communications (Film making) from Jamiya Miliya Islamiya, but quit it in a year. Apparently, the reason he took up Mass Communications (Film making) is because he loved the TV commercials!
For a short spell, Shahrukh Khan ran a restaurant in Darya Ganj, New Delhi. He also joined theatre with Barry John. He started out as an actor on the small screen, in Dil Dariya (directed by Lekh Tandon) where he almost went unrecognized because he played a sardarji. Shah Rukh always knew what exactly he wanted. So, he informed his mother of his decision to act. The supportive family backed him and never came in his way. He thus moved to Mumbai.
Shahrukh finds his sweetheart
Shahrukh was 19 when he first met fourteen-year-old Gauri Chibber at a party. They were good friends - playing badminton, swimming and eating out together. Gradually their friendship developed into love, and soon Shahrukh was compiling History notes for Gauri despite being a student of Economics! Gauri broke up with Shahrukh for a short while as he began to get too possessive of her. Fortunately, SRK was able to convince her of his love and the two were wed on October 25th, 1991. But, of course, it was not easy for the love-struck couple. Gauri's parents condemned the relationship and her mother even threatened suicide. But soon, Shahrukh won their hearts. The Khans had a typical Hindu wedding as well as a court marriage. Shahrukh rode on a horse, an elephant and even danced the entire one kilometre stretch to the venue. The couple are blessed with two children- Aryan and Suhana.
SRK gets a break
The first time that Shahrukh was noticed was in the serial 'Fauji' (1988), 'Circus' (1989) and a few other tele serials. The talent of this versatile actor was soon noticed and he got his first break in films in the movie Deewana (1992) opposite late Divya Bharati. This was soon followed by Dil Aashna Hai (1992) directed by Hema Malini and Chamatkar (1992) opposite Urmila Matondkar. Deewanawas a hit and SRK soon dazzled audiences with his emotionally-charged performances in films like Darr where he played a deranged man obsessed with a girl and Baazigar, where he was a young man seeking vengeance.
SRK making news
Recently, Shah Rukh was featured in Time's 20 Asian Heroes under the age of 40 apart from sitar exponent Anoushka Shankar and others. It's surprising where he gets the energy from! Inspite of facing severe health problems, (A few years back SRK underwent a successful operation in London for his nagging back and neck pain) the actor refuses to 'call quits'.
Shah Rukh has many awards to his credit. Filmfare Best Actor Award 1993 for Baazigar, Filmfare Best Actor Award 1996 for Dilwale Dulhanya Le Jaayenge, Filmfare Best Actor Award 1997 for Dil To Pagal Hai, Filmfare Best Actor Award 1998 for Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Filmfare Best Villain Award 1994 for Anjaam, Critics Award for Kabhi Ha Kabhi Na are just few of the awards the actor has bagged.
According to a report published by the UK Film Institute in London, Shah Rukh Khan is the undisputed Indian superstar in the UK as his films grossed the most there. He even runs a production company 'Dreamz Unlimited' with actress Juhi Chawla and director Aziz Mirza. The company has produced many films, the first being Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani(2000). His company named 'Red Chillies' is under his wife, Gauri's name. The company produced Main Hoon Na which was a super-hit.
Devdas, starring Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit and Shah Rukh Khan left people asking for more. The Rs 50 crore mega project won SRK a great deal of admirers to add to the list of his fan following. His portrayal of the character Devdas was so intense that it brought tears to even the toughest of tough hearts.
Shah Rukh's star power and the positive energy that he exudes are indomitable. He meets people with a sort of genuineness - No strained smiles, no strenuous efforts to make conversation. The name Shah Rukh means 'the countenance of a prince'. What an appropriate name for this 'badshah' of Bollywood!
57