Stars—out there in the boundless sky, forever beyond our reach. Yet every so often, one descends to this dust-covered earth, taking human form, reigning not from a throne, but from the hearts of millions.

When you hear the word “Badshah”, does any name other than Shah Rukh Khan come to mind? At least not for me. And I doubt it ever will. From Raj of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) to Azad of the recent Jawan, every time he has appeared on screen, audiences of all ages have embraced him as the undisputed King of Romance. 

He stepped into Bollywood in 1992 with Deewana, though his journey began earlier with the television series Dusra Keval. For over three decades, Abdul Rashid Khan—the man the world knows as Shah Rukh Khan—has stood as the brightest among the stars of Bollywood cinema.

“Smoking is injurious to health”—I mean, of course it is. However, when it comes to Shah Rukh Khan, it’s impossible to ignore the charm even in the way he smokes. The countless posts and reels flooding social media make it clear: alongside romance, thrillers, and horror, watching SRK light up and smoke in his signature style has become a genre of its own. However, he has already quit smoking. 

And then there’s that boyish shyness—the way he hides his face in his hands and all that the fans, especially the female fans, feel is absolute adoration. In those moments, one can’t help but exclaim, ‘Yeh ladka hai Allah! Hai hai re Allah!’

His captivating gaze, subtle sense of humour, and dialogue brimming with emotion have always made him magnetic on screen. Acting is second nature to him. Whether delivering lines in flawless diction with his resonant voice—Teri Aankhon Ki Namkeen Mastiya… Nahi Bhoolunga Main, Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Jab Tak Hai Jaan—it is only natural for hearts to skip a beat.

Yet beyond the hero Shah Rukh Khan, the man himself is equally remarkable. An avid reader, he honours family ties and social bonds with care and treats co-stars and everyone in the industry with genuine humility.

Over the years, his showcase has been adorned with a constellation of accolades—from Filmfare to IIFA. This year, a National Award has been added to that list. As a Shah Rukh fan, I feel overjoyed. Rather than debating why films like Swades and My Name Is Khan were overlooked while Jawan earned the honour, I will simply go to Facebook and share another post celebrating SRK’s birthday.

Many Bollywood stars go to extraordinary lengths to evade the gaze of the paparazzi. They long for a moment of anonymity—to stroll along Mumbai’s Juhu Beach, to savour ice cream like any ordinary person, to spend quiet, unhurried time in solitude.

But Shah Rukh Khan, the man millions call the King of Bollywood, rules hearts precisely because he does the opposite. He never shies away from the glitter, the frenzy, or the relentless attention. 

With characteristic candour, he once confessed that he has never grown weary of the endless adoration, the fame, or the dazzling spotlight that follows him everywhere. In his own words: “Yeh sab mujhe chahiye hi nahi. Main star bana hoon — mujhe aam aadmi ki tarah nahi rehna hai. Mujhe star wali zindagi hi chahiye.” (“I don’t just want all this—I was born to be a star. I don’t wish to live like an ordinary man. I want a star’s life.”)

His now-iconic declaration — “I am the last of the stars” — reflects the unshakeable confidence that comes from decades of discipline, hard work, and an unrelenting devotion to his craft.

And yet, even amid the waves of fan frenzy — the swooning crowds, the online adulation, the feverish fandom — Shah Rukh Khan remains disarmingly human. He is trolled often, teased relentlessly, and he meets it all with razor-sharp wit and humour.

Once, a journalist named Lipika repeatedly slipped up, addressing him as Salman Khan. Embarrassed, she finally apologised: “Sorry, Shah Rukh.” Moments later, with a mischievous glint in his eye, the actor responded smoothly, “Sorry, Deepika.”

It is in these moments that are spontaneous, self-assured, and effortlessly charming that Shah Rukh Khan’s true stardom reveals itself. He doesn’t just inhabit the world of fame; he has made it his natural habitat.

Shah Rukh Khan has long turned the smallest moments of life—its laughter, joy, sorrow, and melancholy—into something larger than life on screen. We’ve watched him laugh, cry, fall in love, and sing his heart out. Many actors do the same. And yet, what is it that makes him so singularly beloved?

For those of us who count ourselves among his fans, the answer lies in one word: personality. Yes — it is this magnetic, indefinable personality that sets SRK apart from every other actor. It makes him unique, extraordinary, and endlessly endearing — someone we wish to know more closely, to love more deeply.

But Shah Rukh Khan’s brilliance extends far beyond his on-screen persona. As a father, a lover, a husband, and a co-actor, he devotes himself completely to every role life casts him in. Despite a schedule that would exhaust most mortals, he always carves out time for his family. 

And in his grand journey from Delhi’s theatre stages to Bollywood royalty, he never forgets to acknowledge his wife Gauri’s presence beside him, speaking of her with gratitude and affection that feels entirely uncontrived.

Perhaps that’s why the name Shah Rukh Khan has become more than just a name across the Indian subcontinent. It is now more of a sentiment, an emotion, an enduring presence.

From Delhi, where he initially envisioned a career in cinema, to Mumbai, the city where he transformed those dreams into reality, his life has been a true cinematic journey. His sea-facing mansion, Mannat, in Bandra, has become a true symbol of that journey which is no less fascinating than a royal palace. 

Love, wealth, passion, and an overwhelming tide of adoration have overflowed in the King of Bollywood’s life, long before he reaches his diamond jubilee year in 2025.

Now, as fans await his much-anticipated upcoming film King, the sentiment feels inevitable and the King shall reign on.

And yet, amid all these grand tales, one line from his most iconic film still echoes through time: “Agar kisi cheez ko dil se chaho, to puri kaynaat usse tumse milane ki koshish mein lag jaati hai.” (“If you desire something with all your heart, the entire universe conspires to make it yours.”)

You can’t really disagree with that, can you?

(The article is translated by Aynun Nahar Esha)