Shahrukh Khan’s Family and Background

Shahrukh Khan was born in 1965 to Muslim parents of Pathan descent in New Delhi, India. His father, Taj Mohammed Khan, was an Indian independence activist from Peshawar, British India. According to Khan, his paternal grandfather was originally from Afghanistan. His mother, Lateef Fatima, was the adopted daughter of Major General Shah Nawaz Khan of the Janjua Rajput clan, who served as a General in the Indian National Army of Subash Chandra Bose. Khan’s father came to New Delhi from Qissa Khawani Bazaar in Peshawar before the partition of India,[7] while his mother’s family came from Rawalpindi, British India. Khan has an elder sister named Shehnaz.

Growing up in Rajendra Nagar neighbourhood, Khan attended St. Columba’s School where he was accomplished in sports, drama, and academics. He won the Sword of Honour, an annual award given to the student who best represents the spirit of the school. Khan later attended the Hansraj College (1985–1988) and earned his Bachelors degree in Economics (honors). Though he pursued a Masters Degree in Mass Communications at Jamia Millia Islamia, he later opted out to make his career in Bollywood.

After the death of his parents, Khan moved to Mumbai in 1991.In that same year, before any of his films were released, he married Gauri Chibber, a Hindu, in a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony on 25 October 1991. They have two children, son Aryan (b. 1997) and daughter Suhana (b. 2000). According to Khan, while he strongly believes in Allah, he also values his wife’s religion. At home, his children follow both religions, with the Qur’an being situated next to the Hindu gods.

Awards and Honours

Khan has been awarded several honours which includes the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award from the Government of India in 2005. In April 2007, a life-size wax statue of Khan was installed at the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, London. Another statue was installed at the Musée Grévin in Paris, the same year. During the same year, he was accorded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of the Arts and Literature) award by the French government for his “exceptional career”.

In October 2008, Khan was conferred the Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka which carries the honorific Datuk (in similar fashion to “Sir” in British knighthood), by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob, the head of state of Malacca in Malaysia. Khan was honoured for “promoting tourism in Malacca” by filming One Two Ka Four there in 2001. Some were critical of this decision. He was also honoured with an honorary doctorate in arts and culture from Britain’s University of Bedfordshire in 2009.

Film Career

Shahrukh, as he is commonly known, first came to the fore while appearing on various television series, particularly when playing the role of ‘Abhimanyu’ in Fauji (Soldier) in 1988; he also had a minor role in Circus in 1989, which depicted the life of circus performers. He made his movie debut in 1992 with Deewana. In 1993 he shot to stardom with two successive villain roles as a paranoid lover in Baazigar and Darr. 1995 proved to be a defining year in his career, with Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge firmly positioning him as the most successful actor in hindi romantic movies. He followed DDLJ with a string of successes, love stories which included Pardes, Dil to Pagal Hai, and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

His association with director/producer Yash Chopra has resulted in such successes as Darr, Dil To Pagal Hai, and Veer-Zaara. He also found success working with Karan Johar and Yash Johar on Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Kal Ho Na Ho.

Shahrukh is known as a convincing screen lover, and seems to spark equally good performances from his female co-stars – he has good screen chemistry with his heroines. Each of the five movies in which he co-starred with actress Kajol were box office successes. His association with Madhuri Dixit in several movies has also been commercially successful, most notably in Dil to Pagal Hai and Devdas.

Despite his success, some have criticized Shahrukh for sticking to “safe” romantic roles (such as his roles in Karan Johar’s films). Swades, however, silenced some of his detractors; it featured Shahrukh in a low-key, understated performance that many felt was very effective.

Shahrukh co-owns a production company called Dreamz Unlimited with actress Juhi Chawla (a friend ever since they co-starred in Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman) and film director Aziz Mirza. In 2004 another of his production houses, Red Chillies Entertainment, produced the hit film Main Hoon Na.

In addition to acting, Shahrukh regularly appears on stage as a performer or host throughout India and abroad, sometimes showcasing his former movies. His recent show, “Temptations”, included celebrities such as Rani Mukerji, Saif Ali Khan, Preity Zinta, Arjun Rampal and former Miss World Priyanka Chopra and was a commercial success internationally.

Nasreen Munni, the noted British filmmaker, recently produced a two-part documentary on Shahrukh, “The Inner and Outer World of Shah Rukh Khan”. Featuring his 2004 Temptations concert tour, the film contrasts Khan’s “inner world” of family and daily life, with the “outer world” of his work.

Some of his other famous movies include Om Shanti Om, Chak De India, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, Don, Paheli, Kaal, Swades, Veer-Zaara, Main Hoon Na, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Chalte Chalte, Shakti: The Power, Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam, Devdas, Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham, Asoka, One 2 Ka 4, Gaja Gamini, Mohabbatein, Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega, Josh, Hey Ram, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, Baadshah, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dil Se, Achanak, Duplicate, Dil To Pagal Hai, Yes Boss, Koyla, Gudgudee, Pardes, Dushman Duniya Ka, Army, Chaahat, English Babu Desi Mem, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Guddu, Karan Arjun, Oh Darling! Yeh Hai India, Ram Jaane, Trimurti, Zamana Deewana, Anjaam, Baazigar, Darr, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, King Uncle, Dil Aashna Hai, Chamatkar, Deewana, Maya Memsaab, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman.