Shah Rukh Khan

Delhi theater and television

Shah Rukh Khan grew up in New Delhi and studied economics at Hansraj College. He trained in theater with director Barry John's Theatre Action Group, then moved into television in the late 1980s, including the series Circus. His energy and humour on the small screen pointed straight to films.

A fast rise in Mumbai

Khan moved to Mumbai and made his film debut in Deewana (1992), which won him a Filmfare Award for best male debut. He then took daring roles as obsessive anti-heroes in Baazigar (1993) and Darr (1993), unusual choices for a young leading man that made audiences notice him.

The romance that never left the screen

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), directed by Aditya Chopra with Kajol as his co-star, made Khan the definitive romantic hero of Hindi cinema. The film opened in October 1995 and has been shown at the Maratha Mandir cinema in Mumbai ever since, the longest run in Indian film history.

More romantic hits followed, including Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) and Devdas (2002), and he became a huge star with Indian audiences around the world.

Range and reinvention

In Chak De! India (2007) he played the coach of the national women's hockey team, and in My Name Is Khan (2010) he played a man with Asperger syndrome on a journey across America; that film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival. In 2023 he returned after a break with Pathaan and Jawan, both among the highest-grossing Indian films ever, and Jawan earned him his first National Film Award for Best Actor.

Producer and global figure

Khan co-chairs Red Chillies Entertainment, which produces films and visual effects. He has won 15 Filmfare Awards, and France has honored him with the Order of Arts and Letters and the Legion of Honour. To compare his career with other world stars, see our actors A to Z directory.

Where to start

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) is the classic starting point, a romance that moves from London to the mustard fields of Punjab. Chak De! India (2007) is a rousing sports film with almost no romance at all, and My Name Is Khan (2010) shows his dramatic range. For his recent comeback, Pathaan (2023) and Jawan (2023) are big, colorful action entertainers made for crowded cinemas.

Did you know? Hindi films often run close to three hours with an interval in the middle, and songs are a central part of the storytelling, which is why many of Khan's biggest moments are musical numbers.

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