Shah Rukh Khan: Bollywood heartthrob is more famous in India than Tom Cruise.
Last year I was invited to Mumbai by a family friend. During the traditional family dinner, where all the extended family members feasted at one big table, a member of the family asked whether I watched Bollywood films. "Of course," I said, "and I am a big fan of Shah Rukh Khan. He is as famous as Tom Cruise is in the US." I wanted to flatter them, but all I heard was nervous laughter. It was as if the people around the table felt a bit slighted.
Later on, my friend pulled me aside and told me, "In Mumbai, we say that Tom Cruise is the American Shah Rukh Khan."
Such is the phenomena of Shah Rukh Khan in contemporary Bollywood. He is the most famous, the most sought-after, and the most imitated actors in contemporary Hindi cinema. The only other actor who has ever reached his stature is the legendary Amitabh Bachchan, the face of Hindi cinema in the 70s. Shah Rukh Khan, like Tom Cruise, is gifted with good looks and boyish charms that melt the hearts of his female fans.
Shah Rukh Khan made his debut in the 1992 film Deewana, in which he played a supporting role. His first big break came five years later with the film Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1997). He then secured his international superstardom by starring in the blockbuster movie Dil To Pagal Hai (1997). In this film he was paired with Bollywood sweetheart Karisma Kapoor.
His biggest success, however, is starring in the film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998). Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was a phenomenal success, widely considered to be the most admired Hindi film in history. In it, Shah Rukh Khan plays the role of a widower who woos his former best friend after the death of his wife. The portrayal of Shah Rukh Khan as a bumbling college student and later a grieving father touched the hearts of fans around the world, and made him a household name. During his frequent visits to other countries, he was received by legions of fawning fans, especially young women enamored of his romantic persona on screen. Some fans went into hysteria when they saw him, not unlike the Beatles fanatics during the Fab Four's heyday. He commands a loyal following in places as far apart as Japan and the US, where Desi expatriates and local Bollywood fans wait patiently for the next Shah Rukh Khan films.
Despite his oversized popularity and the successes of his films in the late 90s, Shah Rukh Khan refuses to be typecast, and has always endeavored to perfect his craft. Known as a strict taskmaster on film sets, he takes his roles seriously, and in turn has become an inspiration to younger Indian actors. He was awarded the Filmfare Awards (the Indian equivalent of an Oscar) in the Best Actor category a record eight times. The Indian government awarded the Padma Shree, one of the highest civilian awards in India, to Shah Rukh Khan in 2005. The award was given for hisgreat contribution to the Indian film industry.
source: filmsandbooks.com
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