Bollywood actorShah Rukh Khanis one of theworld’s most popular actors, even if he is not a household name in the West. In Asia, Khan is Bollywood’s premier actor, boasting many global awards not only for his acting, but also for his charity work. He began his career in the late-80s by appearing in television series, but as he transitionedinto Bollywood movies, he shocked audiences with appearances inBaazigarandDarr.Khan played unconventional roles for the typical Bollywood formula in both of these movies, establishing him as a character-actor that went above and beyond the standard archetypes previously seen in Hindi-language films.
After a series of ups and downs during the next decade, Khan’s popularity surged again in the mid-2000s. He had a string of hits throughout the 2000s, cementing his status as one of India’s premier celebrities. Now one of Bollywood’s elite actors, holding some of the biggest awards the country and world offer, perFilmFare, Khan takes risks in his movies, whether starring in a comedy or a more serious film. These are the best Shah Rukh Khan movies.
7Karan Arjun
Released in 1995, towards the beginning of Khan’s film career,Karan Arjunis, at its core, amovie about revenge. Two brothers (Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan) were murdered by their uncle after he killed their father. Their devastated mother, stricken by grief, prays to the Goddess Kali so that her sons will come back, and, eventually, they reincarnate 20 years later. Destined to complete the destiny bestowed upon them originally, these two brothers must reunite, remember their past, and take down their common enemy.
6Chak De! India
Khan stars inChak De! Indiaas the former captain of the Indian men’s national field hockey team. After a disastrous loss to long-time rival Pakistan, he is ousted from the position, but he finds a potential redemption arc when he is appointed the coach of the women’s team. The team was originally dubbed as having no future just because they were women trying to be competitive in a sport, but Khan’s character sees how if he can get these women to unite, they can make history.
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InSwades, Khan stars as Mohan, an Indian project manager working in the United States at NASA. Although his parents died in a car crash, he finds himself reminiscing about his nanny back in Uttar Pradesh and one day wishes that he can bring her to the United States with him. When he returns home to find her, he discovers that she is living in the village with his childhood friend, who, naturally, does not want the nanny to leave. The longer he stays in the village, the more injustices he witnesses, whether caste discrimination or socio-economic discrimination, and the more he wishes to stay and make a difference.
Devdasis adapted from a novel of the same name from the Bengali Renaissance, written by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. Set in the early-1900s, a man returns from studying in London to meet with his childhood friend, allowing love to blossom. However, their love story is not an easy one, as his father and sister-in-law reject his beloved on the basis that she is not of a proper social class for him. That is only the beginning of this film, and chaos ensues, ensuring that there is enough drama to power through its one hundred and seventy-four-minute runtime.
Baazigarwas one of Khan’s first iconic roles. He is Ajay Sharma, who grew up without a father because a rich businessman caused his death. Ajay becomes obsessed with the notion of revenge and begins to enact his plan by assuming multiple identities to date both of the businessman’s daughters without either of them noticing the connection. When he murders one of the sisters, it opens up a can of worms that can only end in tragedy.
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2Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
1995’sDilwale Dulhania Le Jayengewas well-praised by critics and audiences alike when it came out, and still has a timeless feel to its story — one that appeals to audiences outside of India as well. Khan and Kajol star as young adults traveling in Europe outside of India with their friends. When the two meet in London, they hate each other at first, but then the classic enemies to lovers trope come into play. But there is a twist in this story: the young woman is expected to marry another man.Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayengeis an innocent romance that commends the nature of following one’s heart, making it an instant classic to swoon over.
BaazigarandDarrwere the two movies that made Khan’s career, and in each of them, he plays a different character. InDarr, the film takes place across 30 years. One storyline tells the doomed love story between a wannabe actor and a popular Bollywood actress, while the second follows his reincarnation trying to live out his original dreams. A classic masala film, the style in which genre blurs,Darris not one to miss.
