Bollywood's Badshah turns 50 on November 2, and it's time to celebrate his life and movies.
Beginning today, we present a special series on SRK, The Superstar.
'I don't know why other people act, but to me at least, it doesn't even seem like a job. It is very satisfying. I act all the time. I have a lot of fun doing what I'm doing. I don't see myself doing anything else with so much of passion.'
Shah Rukh Khan was a few weeks short of 33 when he told Rediff.com that.
Little has changed.
The superstar is still having fun doing what he does and the audience loves him to bits.
And, pray, why not? From theatre to television to films, SRK's gone on to achieve blockbuster success while creating a body of work that boasts of far more variety than it gets credit for.
Witty, ambitious, animated, fascinating and eloquent, SRK is nothing if not charming -- a quality that enthusiastically extends itself to his on-screen persona.
As we celebrate King Khan's 50th birthday, we present the man and the milestones with a list of his best movies.
All you have to do is pick your all-time favourite in the poll below.
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
Playing the carefree, London-bred, Simran-smitten Raj Malhotra in Aditya Chopra's iconic directorial debut marked a turning point in SRK's career and provided a smooth switch from psychopath to lover boy.
Baazigar
Bumping off the heroine from a terrace isn't a risk most leading men would be willing to take at an early stage of their career. But like SRK's superhit line from the movie underscores -- 'Kabhi kabhi kuch jeetne ke liye kuch harna padta hai. Aur haar kar jeetne wale ko Baazigar kehte hain' -- the gamble paid off.
And how!
Kabhi Haan Kahi Naa
The SRK of Kundan Shah's 1994 gem is pure gold. A film that's all heart even when it is breaking our man's in a manner most moving.
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
A teenybopper campus cutie in one half and a doting daddy in another, SRK hits all the 'aww' buttons like only he can in Karan Johar's endearing confection, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.
Swades
SRK sheds his superstardom aura to play a perceptive NASA scientist discovering the reality of India at a grass-root level while challenging its complications with inspiring restraint in Ashutosh Gowariker's brilliant Swades.
Chak De! India
It's only because of films like Chak De! India that critics tend to go hard on SRK. Because when he's good, he's unbelievably good.
And as the strong-minded coach of an out-of-form women's hockey team, he's JUST that.
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
SRK simply transforms into another person in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi.
Nope, not the one in those gaudy Ed Hardy t-shirts.
Suri had us at 'Taani Partner.'
Or was it 'A-One hai ji!'
Darr
SRK's obsessive stalking of Juhi Chawla in Yash Chopra's 'violent love story' stole the thunder from hero Sunny Deol what with the audience preferring his K-k-k-k over the latter's kapow.
Karan Arjun
Shah Rukh pairs up with Salman Khan as the titular brothers taking the reincarnation route to avenge their wicked uncle in Rakesh Roshan's unabashedly campy yet entertaining potboiler.
Dil Se..
Mani Ratnam's keen eyes capture the delicacy of SRK's ardour and Manisha Koirala's resistance to create the complicated romance of Dil Se..
Kal Ho Naa Ho
The dimpled star channels his inner Anand spewing a carpe diem philosophy with characteristic charm and humour around his bubbly co-stars Preity Zinta and Saif Ali Khan in Nikhil Advani's breezy, New York-set love triangle.
Main Hoon Na
The movie idol aims to please as an armyman masquerading as a college student in Farah Khan's relentlessly fun Main Hoon Na. It's the sort of consciously over-the-top masala that relies on SRK's larger-than-life charisma and matchless verve to work.
And he doesn't disappoint.
Devdas
SRK's take on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's memorable creation around Sanjay Leela Bhansali's opulent vision has its moments. Especially the bits where he's more injured than inebriated.
Baadshah
Comedy is one of SRK's most underrated skills. And the brand of drollery he doles out as the goofy detective in and as Baadshah makes us wish for a sequel.
Yes Boss
As the sneaky yes man with a dream and dream girl, SRK juggles between business and pleasure to both tickle and tear up in Aziz Mirza's frothy rom-com.
Om Shanti Om
SRK dabbles around the reincarnation theme once again to essay a junior artist reborn as a superstar settling scores with a devilish filmmaker against Farah Khan's full-blown showmanship.
Mohabbatein
SRK and Amitabh Bachchan face off over 'parampara, prathistha and anushasan' in a movie that's also pretending to launch half a dozen talentless newcomers.
My Name is Khan
An obvious departure from his more showy roles, SRK does well to convey his Asperger's syndrome and the relevance of his naiveté as a Muslim identity in a post 9/11 America.
Chalte Chalte
The actor goes from persuasive to egoistic to remorseful as Rani Mukerji's tantrum prone half in a story about post-marriage blues.
But, hey, this is SRK and he always gets the girl.
Dil To Pagal Hai
Yash Chopra's mastery at romance comes in handy as he sets the stage for SRK to work up a sizzling chemistry around a gorgeous Madhuri Dixit in the super hit 1997 musical.
Pardes
SRK is forced to pick between love and loyalty in Subhash Ghai's Pardes.
He could've dumped both and the audience would still root for him.
Josh
When stardom meets style, the upshot is a hip, leather-clad biker bloke in Mansoor Khan's Josh.
Incredible to witness how easily he alternates between funny and fierce for the desi West Side Story.
Paheli
As the lively spirit who slips into the body of a dull merchant in the breathtakingly beautiful Paheli, SRK draws a tactful distinction between his two characters.
His performance deserves more attention than the moustache he sports.
The Don Series
Even hard-core fans of the original will grudgingly agree that SRK scores big as the sly, slick, sexy and scheming Don in its successful reboot.
Veer Zaara
Playing the eternal romantic comes easily to him, but it's his low-key portrayal of an aged man reunited with his ladylove that lends SRK's performance depth in Yash Chopra's cross-border love story.
Billu
Although it's little more than an extended special appearance, the star delivers an applause worthy performance in a role that hits too close to home during Billu's all-important climatic speech.
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham
As the lovable family man saddened by his father's coldness, craving for his mother's embrace, who loves to rib his kid brother about his overweight and fool around with his Chandni Chowk-inhabiting significant other, SRK makes us laugh and cry in equal measure.
Chennai Express
SRK and Deepika Padukone's North versus South banter is the source of most jokes in Rohit Shetty's Chennai Express. Because the actors are having such a ball with the drivel, so do you.
Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman
A small-town lad swayed by the glamour of the city of dreams picks some important life lessons along the way in Aziz Mirza's warm drama taking obvious inspiration from Shree 420.
Shah Rukh's unpretentious spontaneity and pluck is tailor-made for the part.
Jab Tak Hai Jaan
As if King Khan in uniform isn't hot enough, he's wearing a light stubble and smouldering stare too. What's not to love about the love-struck Major Samar Anand?
