Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) is a name synonymous with the current era of the Hindi Film Industry. The (highly) energetic, dynamic, romantic and audacious man is the one of the most popular and well known personality in India. Sleep-walking through his films, fattening up his bank balance with each new movie.
You talk of Hindi Films and hey - you instantly recollect Shah Rukh Khan.
Switch on the television for hindi movies...Saturdays and Sundays specially...and you shall see atleast one movie with SRK in it! :)
SRK is unlike many in his work domain. He started his career as a small-time actor in television series like ’’Circus’’ and ’’Fauji.’’ He didn’t have a father or any relative who would launch him in the Film Industry, unlike many actors of today.
But a man known for making a killing through his sheer do-or-die attitude, with a concoction of vibrant energy and attitude...you just can’t stop Hindi Film Industry being pulverized by SRK. And that’s exactly what has happened.
He can be controversial through his talks ranging from gay issues to politics. And can still manage to win support of the public. Now that’s whom we can call one of the most influential Indians alive.
Most recently, his initiative in making movies to give different take on India-Pakistan relationship has been quite noticeable. And with SRK the man of the hour...he can easily influence audience to see his point of view and possibly, influence - indirectly - the politics of India and Pakistan. Yes boss, he’s that influential.
From sheer devilry of characters to the most amiable, affable of romantic heroes - SRK has done it all.
In the first half of 1990’s he was most known for his villianous characters - be it in Baazigar, Darr or Anjam.
In the latter half, he really shot up to zenith, with super hits like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dil to Pagal Hai and the subsequent romantic / family drama movies.
The most stunning aspect is that he is quite unchanged in his acting style and the same cliched SRK comes across in all of these movies. Yet, he bowls over his audiences - who keep asking for more of the same stuff - which he keeps delivering - and the cycle continues!
Even though I find his acting style cliched...what makes me like SRK - is his self-belief and sheer hard and smart work through which he has single-handedly come to dominate Bollywood (the term most associated with Hindi Film Industry).
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Most recently, his performance in the movie Swades (a brilliant film by Ashutosh Gowariker) - has won him many new admirers - for his truly different and near authentic role as an NRI who visits his former caretaker / nanny in an Indian village - only to take up the problems of that village and do so successfully.
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My all time favorite SRK movies are:
1) Kabhi Haa, Kabhi Naa
2) Darr
3) Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (DDLJ)
4) Devdas, and,
5) Swades
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In the Future to come: SRK will still rule. His skills as a businessman, marketing person alongwith his acting skills have enabled him to continuously deliver financially to his producers (which he himself is in many of his recent films). Being financially successful is enough to keep him as numero uno in Hindi Film Industry. And SRK deserves it.
Narcissistic, energetic, multi-talented, fiercely driven individual. That’s Shah Rukh Khan for you.
Cutting across religion, sex, culture - people of India love him as he is. And for that, King Khan stays to rule over the Film Industry for time to come. And we will toast him for it!
Cheers!