THE BADSHAH OF BOLLYWOOD

There were hits and flops, highs and lows. There was applause; awards and accolades followed. He broke box office records and changed the game. Then there were controversies. He was targeted for many things, including his Muslim identity. But nothing could dent the superstardom of Shah Rukh Khan. As he turns 60, we trace his journey to understand what makes King Khan relevant ... today and forever

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Do you ever imagine that someday, someone else will grace the headlines?” Anupam Kher asks. “That’s never going to happen,” says Shah Rukh Khan, rather confidently. The audience lets out some giggles. “I’m modest, like Anupam has already mentioned,” he continues. Kher wants to say something but Khan interrupts. “I’ll tell you honestly. Should I just say it? I am the last of the stars,” Khan says, with cool self-assurance. The audience breaks into loud applause.

The bold declaration that Khan made in The Anupam Kher Show (Colors TV) more than a decade ago, continues to hold true for the enduring stardom of the actor in Bollywood, long after many others from his generation seem to be faltering. On May 5, Khan made his debut at the iconic Met Gala in New York, making history as the first Indian male actor at the event, apart from singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh. In September, he launched his eldest son Aryan’s directorial debut series on Netflix, The Ba***ds of Bollywood, which received raving reviews from critics and fans alike. At 60, the fact that Khan continues to hand out historical moments to his global fan base, reinforces the careful cultivation of his image as a “superstar” across the nearly four decades of his career.