He was born in New Delhi. The year he turned 23, he earned an economics degree from Hansraj College. The year he turned 24, he played Abhimanyu Rai in the Doordarshan serial Fauji, and Scroll.in wrote that it marked his big moment under the spotlight.
The year he turned 26, he married Gauri Khan and moved to Mumbai. The year he turned 27, his debut film, Deewana, was released.
The breakthrough yearThe year he turned 28, Baazigar was released in November. Digital Spy wrote that the film is regarded as his breakthrough role, and that year he won his first Filmfare Award and appeared in Darr.
The year he turned 29, he won the Filmfare Award for best actor for Baazigar. The year he turned 30, he played Raj, opposite Kajol, in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. The year he turned 31, he won the Filmfare best actor award again, for that film.
The year he turned 33, he won the Filmfare best actor award for Dil To Pagal Hai, and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was released in October. The year he turned 36, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham was released. The year he turned 37, he starred in Devdas. The year he turned 38, Devdas was nominated for a BAFTA in the foreign language film category.
The year he turned 39, Swades was released worldwide in December. The year he turned 40, Paheli was his only release of the year. The year he turned 41, Don came out in October. The year he turned 42, he starred in Chak De India and Om Shanti Om. The year he turned 43, The Economic Times reported that he had registered names for his Kolkata team in the Indian Premier League.
The year he turned 44, he received an honorary doctorate from Bedfordshire in July. The year he turned 45, My Name Is Khan was released worldwide. The year he turned 46, Ra.One was released. The year he turned 47, Kolkata Knight Riders won their first IPL title. The year he turned 48, Chennai Express passed Rs. 200 crore. The year he turned 50, the University of Edinburgh gave him an honorary doctorate. The year he turned 51, Fan was released.
The year he turned 53, the World Economic Forum named him a Crystal Award recipient. The year he turned 55, he announced initiatives to help citizens during COVID-19. The year he turned 58, Pathaan, Jawan and Dunki were all released, and he won the TIME100 Reader Poll. The year he turned 59, Kolkata Knight Riders won their third IPL title, and he received a lifetime achievement award at Locarno. The year he turned 60, he made his Met Gala debut, won a National Film Award for best actor, and joined the billionaire ranks on the Hurun list. The year he turned 61, he confirmed that King is still set for Dec. 24.
Shah Rukh Khan began on the Doordarshan serial Fauji in 1989, the year he turned 24, and became known on Nov 12, 1993, the year he turned 28, when Baazigar was released. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge followed in 1995, the year he turned 30.
Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.
Born in Delhi, where he later studied.
Source 02 · TIME · 2-Min. Bio: Bollywood Star Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tabSource 03 · The Guardian · King of Bollywood · opens in a new tab TIME gives the birth date and New Delhi; The Guardian says he was born in Delhi.Earned the degree at the University of Delhi college, then began a master’s in mass communication at Jamia Millia Islamia, which Britannica says he left to pursue acting.
Source 02 · TIME · 2-Min. Bio: Bollywood Star Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tabSource 05 · Encyclopaedia Britannica · Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tab TIME gives 1988 for the degree; the day is not given.Scroll.in wrote that the Army training serial, one of 1989’s big hits, marked his big moment under the spotlight. Britannica says his work in Fauji and Circus won him instant recognition.
Source 04 · Scroll.in · The DD Files: When Shah Rukh Khan stole hearts and the show in Fauji · opens in a new tabSource 05 · Encyclopaedia Britannica · Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tabSource 01 · Wikipedia · Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tab Year from Scroll.in and Wikipedia. Britannica and TIME date the serial, or his television debut, to 1988.Britannica lists Circus (1989) among his first acting jobs, alongside Fauji.
Source 05 · Encyclopaedia Britannica · Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tab Year from Britannica; no further date is given.Gauri Khan is now a producer and interior designer, according to Britannica.
Source 05 · Encyclopaedia Britannica · Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tab Year from Britannica; the day is not given.Britannica says he found immediate success with the release of his debut film.
Source 05 · Encyclopaedia Britannica · Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tabSource 01 · Wikipedia · Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tab Month from Wikipedia; not confirmed in news reports.The Times of India says he won it in 1993, in the best new comer category. Wikipedia gives the film as Deewana.
Source 06 · The Times of India · Shahrukh Khan: The King of Awards · opens in a new tabSource 01 · Wikipedia · Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tab The film is from Wikipedia; not confirmed in news reports. The Times of India gives the year but not the day.Played a man obsessed with revenge. Digital Spy wrote that the film is regarded as his breakthrough role and began his pairing with Kajol.
Played an antihero. Britannica says the film started his partnership with the director Yash Chopra.
Source 05 · Encyclopaedia Britannica · Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tabSource 08 · The Guardian · Shah Rukh Khan on being king of Bollywood · opens in a new tabSource 01 · Wikipedia · Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tab Month from Wikipedia; not confirmed in news reports.Digital Spy and Britannica both list the award for Baazigar.
Source 07 · Digital Spy · Shah Rukh Khan marks 20-year anniversary of Baazigar · opens in a new tabSource 05 · Encyclopaedia Britannica · Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tab Britannica lists the award as Baazigar (1994); the ceremony date is not given.Played Raj, opposite Kajol. Britannica says the film cast him as a romantic hero; The Guardian wrote in 2024 that he made his breakthrough in it in 1995.
Source 09 · CNN · Bollywood’s longest-running film gets a reprieve · opens in a new tabSource 05 · Encyclopaedia Britannica · Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tabSource 08 · The Guardian · Shah Rukh Khan on being king of Bollywood · opens in a new tabSource 01 · Wikipedia · Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tab Day from Wikipedia; CNN says the film was released in 1995.Britannica lists the award for Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1996).
Source 05 · Encyclopaedia Britannica · Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tab Year from Britannica; the ceremony date is not given.Britannica lists the award for Dil To Pagal Hai (1998).
Source 05 · Encyclopaedia Britannica · Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tab Year from Britannica; the ceremony date is not given.Karan Johar’s film, with Kajol and Rani Mukherjee, was reviewed by India Today as a love triangle.
Source 10 · India Today · Three is company · opens in a new tabSource 01 · Wikipedia · Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tab Day from Wikipedia; India Today’s review is dated Oct. 26, 1998.The Guardian describes the 2001 film as a family saga, in which he appears with Kajol.
Source 08 · The Guardian · Shah Rukh Khan on being king of Bollywood · opens in a new tabSource 01 · Wikipedia · Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tab Day from Wikipedia; The Guardian gives the year.Starred in the romantic tragedy. The Guardian later wrote that it was the first Hindi film shown at Cannes. He and Aishwarya Rai promoted it in New York in July.
Source 03 · The Guardian · King of Bollywood · opens in a new tabSource 11 · Rediff.com · Shah Rukh: For an entire year, I was sad · opens in a new tabSource 01 · Wikipedia · Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tab Day from Wikipedia; not confirmed in news reports. Rediff’s interview is dated July 10, 2002.The Times of India reported that the film received a nomination in the foreign language film category.
Source 12 · The Times of India · Devdas nominated for best foreign film at Bafta · opens in a new tab Date is that of the article.Played Mohan Bhargava, an Indian expatriate working at the Goddard Space Flight Center, according to Variety’s review.
Source 13 · Variety · Swades: We, the People · opens in a new tabThe Guardian wrote in 2006 that it was India’s official entry to the Academy Awards.
Source 03 · The Guardian · King of Bollywood · opens in a new tab Year inferred from The Guardian’s Aug. 4, 2006 article, which calls it his only release the previous year.Starred in the remake of the 1978 Hindi film. Variety wrote that it did good business on its October release in India and offshore.
Source 14 · Variety · Don · opens in a new tab Variety’s review is dated Jan. 3, 2007; the day is not given.Played the coach of a women’s hockey team.
Source 15 · Hindustan Times · Chak De India takes SRK down memory lane · opens in a new tabSource 01 · Wikipedia · Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tab Hindustan Times, Aug. 6, 2007, said the film was slated for Aug. 10; Wikipedia gives the same date.Starred in Farah Khan’s film with Deepika Padukone and Arjun Rampal.
Source 16 · Hindustan Times · Review: Om Shanti Om · opens in a new tabSource 01 · Wikipedia · Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tab Day from Wikipedia; Hindustan Times’s review is dated Nov. 13, 2007.The Economic Times reported that he had registered both Night Riders and Knight Riders for his Kolkata team in the Indian Premier League, which was to begin April 18.
Source 17 · The Economic Times · Shah Rukh Khan’s Kolkata IPL team to be called Night Riders or Knight Riders · opens in a new tab Date is that of the article.TIME listed the honorary doctorate from the University of Bedfordshire, awarded in July.
Source 02 · TIME · 2-Min. Bio: Bollywood Star Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tab TIME, Aug. 18, 2009, says July; the day is not given.Played a man with Asperger’s syndrome who sets out to meet the U.S. president, in a film directed by Karan Johar. Variety reported a global rights deal with Fox Star Studios.
Source 18 · Variety · My Name Is Khan · opens in a new tabThe Los Angeles Times reported an estimated $30 million budget and, per the distributor, $35 million worldwide in the first five days.
Source 19 · Los Angeles Times · Ra.One: Shah Rukh Khan as Bollywood superhero · opens in a new tabSource 01 · Wikipedia · Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tab Release date from Wikipedia; the Los Angeles Times article is dated Nov. 4, 2011.Business Standard reported that the team beat two-time defending champion Chennai Super Kings in the final.
Source 20 · Business Standard · IPL victory puts KKR in the black · opens in a new tabSource 05 · Encyclopaedia Britannica · Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tab Date inferred: Business Standard says the final was on Sunday night, and the article is dated May 29, 2012. Britannica says he became a co-owner of the team in 2008.The Times of India reported it passed 3 Idiots on the top-grossers chart.
Source 21 · The Times of India · Chennai Express finally beats 3 Idiots · opens in a new tab Date is that of the article.The University of Edinburgh recognized his contribution to film and his philanthropic work, BBC News reported.
Source 22 · BBC News · Shah Rukh Khan given honorary doctorate by University of Edinburgh · opens in a new tabPlayed a Mumbai star named Aryan Khanna and a lookalike fan, Gaurav.
Source 23 · The Guardian · Fan review · opens in a new tabSource 01 · Wikipedia · Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tab Release date from Wikipedia; The Guardian’s review is dated Apr. 14, 2016.The forum cited his leadership in championing children’s and women’s rights in India. The ceremony was set for Jan. 22.
Source 24 · World Economic Forum · Meet the 2018 Crystal Award winners · opens in a new tab Date is that of the forum’s announcement.The Economic Times reported he used his companies, including Kolkata Knight Riders, Red Chillies Entertainment and the Meer Foundation, to support citizens.
Source 25 · The Economic Times · COVID-19: Shah Rukh Khan announces series of initiatives to help citizens · opens in a new tabDeadline reported 313 crore ($39M) globally through its first Friday, calling it the biggest opening weekend of a Bollywood title worldwide. It ended a lengthy hiatus from the big screen as a lead.
Source 26 · Deadline · Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan on Record-Breaking Box Office Spree · opens in a new tab Day inferred: Deadline’s article, dated Jan. 28, 2023, says the film debuted Wednesday.He took 4% of the vote after more than 1.2 million votes were cast, TIME reported.
Source 27 · TIME · Film Star Shah Rukh Khan Wins the 2023 TIME100 Reader Poll · opens in a new tabReleased Sept. 7, it passed his own Pathaan. Deadline estimated its gross in India at 663 crore ($79.8M).
Source 28 · Deadline · The Nun II Tops $200M Global, Jawan Sets New Bollywood Record · opens in a new tabSource 29 · Hindustan Times · Shah Rukh Khan to go global with Rajkumar Hirani’s Dunki · opens in a new tab Date is that of the Deadline article; the release date is from Hindustan Times.The Independent reported that the comedy-drama, directed by Rajkumar Hirani and co-starring Taapsee Pannu and Vicky Kaushal, was released on Dec. 21.
Source 36 · The Independent · What is Dunki? The ‘donkey route’ in the new film · opens in a new tabSource 35 · Millennium Post · Shah Rukh Khan confirms King release date · opens in a new tab The Independent’s article is dated Dec. 25, 2023; Millennium Post, in 2026, lists Dunki as his 2023 release.Kolkata beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets in the final in Chennai, ESPNcricinfo reported.
Source 30 · ESPNcricinfo · KKR’s bowlers rip through SRH to win third IPL title · opens in a new tabSource 05 · Encyclopaedia Britannica · Shah Rukh Khan · opens in a new tab Britannica says he became a co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders in 2008.The Hollywood Reporter said the honor at the 77th Locarno Film Festival was the Career Leopard; The Guardian calls it the Pardo lifetime achievement award.
Source 31 · The Hollywood Reporter · Film Fests 2024: Shah Rukh Khan Excites Locarno · opens in a new tabSource 08 · The Guardian · Shah Rukh Khan on being king of Bollywood · opens in a new tab The Guardian’s interview is dated Aug. 15, 2024; the ceremony day is not given.CNN reported that he wore a look by the designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee.
Source 32 · CNN · Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi · opens in a new tabThe 71st National Film Awards, announced that evening, listed him for Jawan alongside Rani Mukerji and Vikrant Massey. Hindustan Times’s headline called it his first-ever best actor award.
Source 33 · Hindustan Times · 71st National Film Awards full list of winners · opens in a new tabBBC News reported his net worth at an estimated $1.4bn on the Hurun India Rich List 2025, his first time among billionaires.
Source 34 · BBC News · Shah Rukh Khan: Bollywood superstar enters the billionaire club · opens in a new tabIn a social media Q&A, he said the date would not change. The film, directed by Siddharth Anand, is set for Dec. 24, his first release since Dunki.
Source 35 · Millennium Post · Shah Rukh Khan confirms King release date · opens in a new tab Date is that of the Millennium Post agency article.END OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 1965–2026 · not a complete list of work. “Key moment” is an editorial label, not a measure of success.
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AgeTrail lines up the key moments of a life by age.
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Film & TV · India
Nov 2, 1965 —
Ages are counted from the birth year 1965: the year of the event minus 1965, birthdays aside. “Key moment” labels and the connecting story are AgeTrail's editorial reading.
Fact-checked: 2026.09.30 · An independent archive, not affiliated with the person or their agency.