Shah Rukh Khan

Date of Birth: 2nd November 1965

Known as King Khan, Shah Rukh Khan is not just the reigning superstar, but also a brand in Bollywood.

His career as an actor began in theatre in Delhi, and was followed by a few TV serials. Khan moved to Mumbai after the death of his parents and his foray into Bollywood was marked by a good start in Deewana in 1992.

Shah Rukh delivered a few duds in the initial years of his film career, and it was only after he experimented with negative roles in films such as Darr, Anjaam and Baazigar that his phenomenal rise to the top began.

Finally, it was the hugely popular Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge that established his star power. With successive hits in Karan Johar and Farah Khan's films, Shahrukh has become an important face of Indian cinema internationally. He is often criticised though for not acting in films other than those by made his own coterie.

Khan returned to TV as the host of the second season of Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2007 and is now hosting Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain?, the Indian version of Are you smarter than a fifth grader?.

Khan has also dabbled in special effects and stunt direction. He is probably the only actor to have appeared in item numbers. He turned producer in 1994 with Dreamz Unlimited; and set up The Red Chillies Entertainment in 2004.

Khan is one of the four Bollywood actors whose wax statue is housed in Madame Tussauds, London, and the only one to have found a place in Paris' Grevin Museum. He is also the owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders cricket team in the Indian Premier League.

Shah Rukh is married to Gauri Khan. He has one son, Aryan, and a daughter, Suhana.