The king of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan has completed 26 years in the Indian film industry. We obviously can’t quantify our love for him as it surpasses all realms, so we decided to look back at his 26-year journey and give you 26 reasons of why we are in awe of the mega star.
Let’s begin!
1. He started from scratch
With no godfathers to support him, Shah Rukh Khan entered the film industry with passion and high hopes. He was homeless, everyday was a struggle yet he paved his own path and made a name for himself. His conviction gives hope to so many people to this day.
2. No one lip syncs songs better than him
We still remember his entry in the iconic song Aaj Ki Raat from Don and his ability to own Sonu Nigam’s melodious voice. There are other songs as well that we recall, sung by different singers but in the end, the magic of SRK on screen just gives us another reason to fall in love with all his songs.
3. He is a hot favouirte of the young blood in Bollywood
Can we even blame them? The two hottest divas of Bollywood, both Deepika Padukone and Anuskha Sharma made their debut with King Khan. They managed to uphold successful careers henceforth so it’s suffice to say that he was their lucky mascot along with the talent they possessed.
4. He is an avid reader
Despite being the most busy actor, he’s an avid reader and owns a beautiful library at home. Just goes on to show that he’s not just good looking but a man of substance too – a complete package, indeed.
5. He’s an articulate speaker
With knowledge comes the art of oratory. Shah Rukh Khan has certainly proven that to us. His choice of words and expression are enough to mesmerise the audience, whether it’s his speech at Yale or any interview, one could watch him speak all day and not get tired of it.
6. He values his time
He’s known to be a thorough professional. We’re sure completing over two decades in the industry and upholding the status that he has, who can ever doubt him?
7. He’s an ideal family man
Shah Rukh Khan is not just a doting father to his three lovely children but also a supporting husband to his wife Gauri Khan. He’s an ideal family man and makes sure that he spends quality time with them, plays video games, and discusses superhero movies with his children.
8. His dimpled smile can melt any heart
Be it any scene from his movie or any interview, his smile is all you need to watch out for to melt any heart. That hasn’t changed over the years and we love that about him.
9. He’s truly committed to what he does
His conviction knows no bounds. Whether it’s getting six pack abs despite a shoulder surgery or working relentlessly for women empowerment through his many social projects. He does it all, out of pure passion.
10. He redefined the meaning of friendship for us
 
His 1998-film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai — which is popular even today — taught us some major friendship goals. From exchanging colourful friendship bands to his famous dialogue Pyaar dosti hai, the man single-handedly redefined the meaning of friendship for us.
11. Raj and Rahul still brighten up our dull days
Be it Raj from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, or Rahul from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, we somehow always manage to turn up to the two when we’re looking for entertainment and they really make us forget our woes for that instant.
12. His signature pose is our favourite
Be it the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, sarson ke khet somewhere in Punjab or runny streams in Kashmir, this man manages to ace his act of striking his signature pose that makes every woman swoon.
13. His own love story is what dreams are made of
Against all odds, Shah Rukh Khan married Gauri Chibber (now Khan) despite the struggle he initially faced of being an actor. And today, SRK and Gauri are the most loved couple people seek inspiration from and love to no end.
14. He’s no ordinary dreamer
Apart from his acting, Shah Rukh should be lauded for his knack for business that has helped him make millions through his sharp mind and business skill set. Not many people know that he and his wife Gauri Khan own India’s biggest visual effects studios — Red Chillies VFX.
15. He’s compared to legends like Dilip Kumar & Amitabh Bachchan
Ruling the hearts of people for 26 years has made people believe he’s in the same league as legends like Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan. His acting prowess has truly proven his worth in Bollywood.
16. He’s one of the first Indian actors to be waxed at Madame Tussaud’sÂ
Judging by his immense popularity, it’s no surprise that Shah Rukh Khan was one of the first Indian actors to be waxed at Madame Tussaud’s, not just in London, but in Delhi too.
17. He has bagged the maximum number of Filmfare awards
People may think of him as an overrated actor but to us, he’s truly a star. Bagging 12 Filmfare awards says something, doesn’t it.
18. He owns his own cricket team
How cool is that? We’re sure stepping into sports was another milestone for Shah Rukh Khan and co-owning Kolkata Knight Riders – KKR proved his passion for the sport on a far bigger level than one could imagine.
19. He’s the only Indian to be offered to speak at TEDx VancouverÂ
Â
He has indeed shown time and again that when it comes to public speaking, he’s Bollywood’s undoubted baadshah. It’s not surpising that he was the first Indian to be invited for a speech at TED, Vancouver. As expected, he blew the audience over with his anecdotes, laser sharp wit, and some insightful lessons on life. How can we not love him?
20. A French museum issued gold coin in his honor
Here’s yet another achievement among his countless ones, and it’s no ordinary one, we tell you. He’s the first Indian actor to be honored with his name printed on a gold coin at a museum in France. That’s SRK for you!
21. He’s the only Indian who was awarded by UNESCO for his charitable work
Among some big international names, Shah Rukh Khan is the first Indian who bagged a special award for his kindness at the 20th UNESCO Awards. He was honoured with Pyramide con Marni award for his charitable work.
22. He’s a big car enthusiast
Shah Rukh Khan is a huge car enthusiast and owns a range of luxury cars that have been added to his collection over the years. Some of which apparently include Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe, Bugatti Veyron and Range Rover.
23. He was  conferred with the Knight of the Legion of Honor
Being awarded the top French Civilian Award speaks volumes. Just when we thought he had done enough, he was conferred with Knight of the Legion of Honour in recognition of his outstanding contribution to cultural diversity across the world. And his achievements don’t stop there.
24. His Chaiyya Chaiyya is iconic to this day
The famous train dance is what he was known for, for the longest time. Our memory is still vivid to this day when we caught a glimpse of SRK dancing to his heart’s desire along with Malaika on Chaiyya Chaiyya. The song has since been among his iconic works.
25. He speaks from the heart
One of his greatest qualities that truly makes him the King of the industry is his sincerity and devotion towards all that he does. He takes up issues he strongly feels for with no half measures. He speaks from the heart and its beauty reflects in his work, on both professional and humanitarian levels.
26. He’s a man of substance with great sense of humour and razor sharp wit
We’ve experienced that on many occasions, haven’t we? In spite having such a staunch fan following and presence worldwide, he has remained grounded and has never forgotten his roots. Whether you see him host a show or catch any of his interviews, his humour can’t be missed. His razor sharp wit gives you yet another reason to believe he’s no ordinary being but truly a gifted soul.
Bonus:
Here’s Shah Rukh talking about his 26-year journey in a special video he released yesterday (Thursday).
Enjoy!
