It’s November 2, and Shah Rukh Khan is turning 61 today; yes, happy birthday, Shah Rukh! Born in 1965 in New Delhi, he has been ruling Bollywood for over three decades. Everyone knows the big ones. ‘DDLJ’, ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, ‘Chennai Express’, ‘Pathaan’ and ‘Jawan’ live on every rewatch list.
But some of his best work never got its due. A few films flopped. A few were too early. And, a few were just too strange for their time. So as a birthday treat, here are ten SRK films worth another look. Pick one tonight.
10. Maya Memsaab (1993)
This one is a real curio. Director Ketan Mehta based it on Gustave Flaubert’s novel ‘Madame Bovary’. SRK plays Charudutt, a man caught in a tense love story. Deepa Sahi plays Maya, the restless wife at the center of it all.
The film was bold for its era. It dealt with desire and boredom in a way mainstream cinema rarely did. The music came from Hridaynath Mangeshkar, with lyrics by Gulzar. SRK was still early in his career here. It shows he was picking risky roles from day one.
9. Billu (2009)
Billu is a gentle, warm film. It is directed by Priyadarshan and is a remake of the Malayalam film ‘Kadha Parayumbol’. Irrfan Khan plays Billu, a small town barber. Life is tough for him until a superstar visits his village.
That superstar is SRK, playing a version of himself. The film was first titled ‘Billu Barber’. Barber associations objected, so the makers dropped the word. It is a sweet story about friendship and fame. SRK pokes fun at his own stardom, and he looks like he is enjoying it.
8. Asoka (2001)
Asoka is a big historical epic that flopped hard. That is a shame, because it looks stunning. Santosh Sivan directed and shot it. The film follows the early life of Emperor Asoka, from fierce prince to a man changed by war.
SRK plays the warrior prince, and Kareena Kapoor plays Kaurwaki. The film was screened at the Venice Film Festival. Viewers often say it was ahead of its time. The battle scenes and the visuals still hold up well.
7. Zero (2018)
Zero got mixed reviews and did not do well at the box office. Still, it has a lot of heart. Aanand L. Rai directed it. SRK plays Bauua Singh, a short and cheeky man from Meerut.
Bauua falls for Aafia, a brilliant scientist played by Anushka Sharma. She has cerebral palsy. Katrina Kaif plays Babita Kumari, a troubled film star. The VFX used to shrink SRK on screen was a big technical effort. The ending goes to space, which is wild. Zero is not perfect. But it swings big, and that is worth respecting.
6. Dear Zindagi (2016)
This is a quiet, soft film. It was directed by Gauri Shinde, who also made ‘English Vinglish’. Alia Bhatt plays Kaira, a young cinematographer who struggles with sleep and relationships.
SRK plays Dr. Jehangir Khan, a therapist who talks to her in a relaxed way. There are no big dance numbers. The film is set largely in Goa, and the mood is calm. It also helped open up a conversation about therapy in Indian cinema. SRK stays low key here, and he is great at it.
5. Fan (2016)
Fan is a thriller, and SRK plays two roles. One is Aryan Khanna, a huge movie star. The other is Gaurav, a young fan from Delhi who looks just like him. Obsession slowly turns dark.
The film has no songs in its story. The title track, Jabra Fan, was released as a promo. For the young Gaurav, the team used prosthetics by Greg Cannom, an Oscar winning makeup artist. Some critics found the film heavy. But it has one of SRK’s most intense performances. Watch it for the cat and mouse chase.
4. Paheli (2005)
Paheli is a ghost story with a twist. A ghost falls in love with a married woman while her husband is away. Then the ghost takes the husband’s form. Yes, it is as odd as it sounds. SRK plays both the husband and the ghost.
Amol Palekar directed it. Rani Mukerji plays Lachchi, the bride. The story comes from a Rajasthani folktale by Vijaydan Detha. India sent the film as its official entry to the Oscars in 2006. SRK also produced it under his banner, Red Chillies. The sets and costumes are gorgeous.
3. Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994)
This is a real fan favorite now. Kundan Shah directed it. He also made the cult comedy ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro’. SRK plays Sunil, a dreamer in Goa who wants to be a rock star.
Sunil is not a perfect hero. He lies a little. He messes up a lot. And, he chases Anna, played by Suchitra Krishnamurthy. His friend Chris, played by Deepak Tijori, gets the girl instead. The film won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Film. It also shows SRK’s talent for comedy. The ending is bittersweet and stays with you.
2. Dil Se.. (1998)
Mani Ratnam made this one. It did badly in India but did very well overseas. It also won the NETPAC Award at the Berlin Film Festival. And, it was one of the first Hindi films to crack the UK top ten.
SRK plays Amar, a radio journalist. He falls for Meghna, played by Manisha Koirala, who hides a dark secret. The film is built on stages of love from Urdu and Arabic literature. Preity Zinta made her screen debut here. The music is by A.R. Rahman, with lyrics by Gulzar. And yes, there is Chaiyya Chaiyya. Farah Khan choreographed it on top of a moving train in the Nilgiris. People still talk about it.
1. Swades (2004)
If you watch only one film from this list, make it Swades. Ashutosh Gowariker directed it. SRK plays Mohan Bhargav, a NASA scientist. He returns to India to find his old nanny, Kaveri Amma. He ends up staying in a small village.
The film is slow, and it runs about three and a half hours. But every scene earns its place. Mohan brings electricity to the village using a small hydropower setup. The story was inspired by a real couple, Aravinda and Ravi Kuchimanchi, who left the US to work in rural India. Gayatri Joshi plays Gita. Rahman gave it a stunning score, with Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera as the standout.
Swades flopped at first. Now it is called one of SRK’s finest performances. Many fans say it is his best. He plays a man who is quiet, thoughtful and real. No big speeches, just a slow change of heart. It is the kind of film that feels better each time you watch it.
That is the list. These films show a different side of SRK. He is a risk taker, a clown, a dreamer and a villain. He has been all of it.
Happy birthday, Shah Rukh. Thanks for the movies, the pose and the memories.
Now it is your turn. Which underrated SRK film did we miss? Drop it in the comments and tell us why it deserves more love.
- Shah Rukh Khan
