He needs no introduction… the scrawny guy from Delhi who has entertained us for more than 30 years now. On tv, on big screens, on stage and even at cricket stadiums. A star that has the most ardent following all over the world an has brought multiple generations together. The King Khan. The Badshah of Bollywood. The King of Romance.
As someone born around mid-80s, I have loved Shah Rukh Khan right from Circus and since before I had any understanding of romance. Yet I wished someone would sing ‘Tujhe dekha toh yeh jaana sanam’ for me since my pre-teens and DDLJ has been a constant in my life - I watch it when I am sad and need a mood lift, I watch it when I have something to celebrate and I watch it when I can’t decide what to watch on OTT. I have dreamed of being someone’s Maya, someone’s Zaara, someone’s Mandira, and someone’s Naina. I have cheered for Aryan Khanna, just as enthusiastically as I have cheered for Kabir Khan. I have loved Kali as much as I have loved Jahangir Khan or young Sunil or Don.
In Chennai Express, Rahul is the protector. In Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, he plays both a dutiful husband and over the top lover - the glass disguise work for Superman then why not ‘apna Raj’? In Jab Tak Hai Jaan, he is the lover who loves Meera the only way he is allowed to while playing the mentor and friend to Akira. In Kal Ho Na Ho, Aman loves Naina so much that he makes the way for Rohit. In Dil Se… he plays the lover who gives his life to stop the love of his life committing a grave mistake. In Pardes, Arjun saves Ganga over and over again while nurturing her. In Harry Met Sejal, yeah I watched that one too, Harry with all his faults does the right thing time and time again.
When I watched Chak De! India, emotions were running manifold. I mean come on, in a country that worshipped men’s cricket team for decades and all but ignored other sports and teams, Chak De! India focused on women’s hockey team. Watching the girls coming together despite all the hurdles was a high in itself. But with SRK playing Kabir Khan, looking all cool and delivering dialogues like, ‘team bananey k like taakat nahi, niyat chahiye,’… was a different high. It helped me look for things in my life that could be influenced to change for better with just intention.
When I watched Chak De! India, emotions were running manifold. I mean come on, in a country that worshipped men’s cricket team for decades and all but ignored other sports and teams, Chak De! India focused on women’s hockey team. Watching the girls coming together despite all the hurdles was a high in itself. But with SRK playing Kabir Khan, looking all cool and delivering dialogues like, ‘team bananey k like taakat nahi, niyat chahiye,’… was a different high. It helped me look for things in my life that could be influenced to change for better with just intention.
When I watched Swades, I was blown away by SRK’s acting all over again. He did good and he also reinforced my belief in working at the grass root levels to make a change. Not every one of us have the capacity to make a change at a global level. And while Mohan Bhargav was already impacting the world with his work at NASA, coming back to a village in India that was hard to find on a map and working to change those lives… Well, it resonated. Working close to home, making small changes around yourself does have an impact.
Fan ended up being my top favourite movie because his role as Aryan Khanna is almost autobiographical, minus the Gaurav angle. The small moment where he portrays an ageing star worried about the lines marring his features - it is such a fleeting moment in the movie, but I cannot imagine the nerve it must have taken to take the vulnerability of his life and his profession and putting it up on the screens for all to watch… Aryan Khanna is perhaps one of his best performances.
He set the screens on fire with his abs in Dard-e-Disco at 42 and let me tell you as much as I enjoyed watching it on screen, it also made me think that it is never too late to do something you set your mind to. At a time when younger actors were debuting and being compared to SRK (yet again), he stayed rock solid with his stardom and appeared on screen in a new avatar. And he is going to do it again at 56 for Pathan. An actor who claims to be bad at dancing tried his hand at (or should I say legs?!) at hip hop in 2012. Well, at 38… I think I can do too - not because I was told, but because my star showed me that it can be done.
I have to admit, I was probably the only one who left the theatre with tear stained eyes after watching Ram-Jaane and every time I watch Kal Ho Na Ho, my mom consoles me for not being able to save Aman yet again. Yes, I am that kind of a fan when it comes to SRK because he has spoiled me when it comes to romance.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying he is flawless and hasn’t done some toxic things on screen. There is no denying that. And, let us be real, we do not love him because we expect to be romanced while wearing a saree on Swiss mountains, or dance in the rain, or being jet set to Europe for a holiday either.
We love him because he is an actor who portrays softer and vulnerable characters. He is not the macho guy nor is he the perfectionist. He is the one in between who is giving us the balance that is closer to what we need. He is the actor who decided that if he couldn’t change the pay gap in the industry, he could do what is in his control - make sure that actress’s names appear first on screen giving them the show runner position. He is also the actor who shares a much bigger chunk of screen times with his heroines.
He is the dependable guy who will stand by you and tell you everything you need to know. He is not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeves. He may not be able to beat up anyone who bothers you, but he’ll probably take the beating for you to protect you. He is the one who will treat you like a queen not only while wooing you, but also once you ‘happily ever after’ begins. He’ll earn a living for you or he’ll help you cook and clean depending on what you want from him. He is the guy who will carry your dress’s trail to keep it from getting dirty or to save you from tripping because of it.
Though there are some situations from his movies that does add to the overall idea of his brand of romance - like Raj from DDLJ showed me that I could get rip-roaring drunk in a foreign country and still be safe with the right guy. But the overall brand is much more than the stories… It is what SRK brought to them. Whether it’s that manic love of Rahul in Darr or dreamer Rahul in DTPH - the intensity is in the eyes. Those eyes show the rage, the confusion and the sadness reeling us in to whatever character he is playing. He is rarely the white knight in shining armour... he is the next door boy who would have scraped their knees right alongside you, seen your snots and loved you anyway.
For years, SRK has transported us to a whole different world, with his expressive eyes and sensuous smiles, whenever we watched one of his performances. And that is why even with movies that have disappointed us, we keep going back.
Somewhere along these years I have come to expect that look that says 'I See You', that hand hold that says 'I have your back', those actions that say you 'I Love You' and that presence that promises 'Forever'.
And then when he is off-screen, he is just as charming and that just swoon worthy. You know I am right. The well-read actor behind all these characters just appeal to the bookworm in me. The well-spoken star off-the screen appeals to the introvert person that I am. He changes the energy in any room he walks into. The witty person at interviews woos everyone with his own words.
What I am trying to say is that it is not just his movies. It is what he brings to the characters on screen and the person we see off-screen too. It is the fact that he taught us not only to love and romance, but also to demand respect and learn to dream big dreams. It is not fleeting and it isn’t convenient, but it is the calm and constant through all the uncertainties of life. It’s the complete package... some call it a fantasy and I call it SRK's brand of romance.
It is why I refuse to accept anything less anymore.
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