Shah Rukh Khan: 60 years old and still very much in vogue

Generation Z remixes his songs. Millennials grew up with him. Baby Boomers watched his rise to fame. For millions of people inside and outside India, Shah Rukh Khan (aka SRK) is one of Bollywood's most recognizable and influential faces.

This year alone, the actor, who turns 60 on November 2nd, has created several viral moments: In May, he was the first Indian actor to walk the Met Gala red carpet , in June he made a cameo appearance in Ed Sheeran's video "Sapphire", and in October a selfie he took in Riyadh with South Korean "Squid Game" star Lee Jung-jae went viral.

People search for the name Shah Rukh Khan on Google from Mauritius to Myanmar. What makes this man an icon across national borders and generations?

The man behind the myth

Since his debut in 1992, Khan has played a variety of roles in over 80 films: the romantic hero in "Dilwale - I Love You", which is still playing in a cinema in Mumbai, or a disgraced hockey coach in "Chak De! India - An Unbeatable Team".

In the 2023 film "Jawan," he portrays a man fighting against inefficiency and corruption in the government. He takes on six different roles, each referencing previous film characters. This performance earned him his first Indian National Film Award for Best Actor last September.

According to Vera Wessel, editor-in-chief of the German-language Bollywood , film and lifestyle magazine ISHQ, SRK can evoke emotions like no other actor: "Even his fans sometimes have difficulty explaining why he has this effect on them." Khan himself once joked to the American television host David Letterman: "I am an employee of the Shah Rukh Khan myth."

Through the eyes of the fans

The female perspective on the myth was skillfully explored by Shrayana Bhattacharya, an economist and avowed admirer of Shah Rukh Khan, in her 2021 book, " Desperately Seeking Shah Rukh: India's Lonely Young Women and the Search for Intimacy and Independence." Using Khan as a "narrative device," she brought Indian women of different ages and social backgrounds to "talk about their own frustrated attempts to achieve economic and emotional independence in one of the world's most insidious patriarchies ."

Bhattacharya explains that Khan's image is shaped by the lived realities of those who see him on screen. For a domestic worker, his caring gestures on screen—such as helping with housework—offer rare validation in a country where men's participation in domestic labor is among the lowest in the world. For the elite, he embodies the myth of meritocracy during India's neoliberal transition. And for first-generation working women, his films offer emotional release in their quiet rebellion against marriage by prioritizing career over marriage.

"After following the lives and love lives of his female fans for 15 years, I know there is no linear theory about Khan's impact. He is just one person, but every female fan has projected her desires and fantasies onto him in her own unique and very different way," Bhattacharya told DW.

Remixed by Gen Z

Much like the loyal fans of 90s boy bands, many of Khan's fans have grown up with him and often passed their enthusiasm on to their children. His films, which depict the lives of Indians working abroad, have also resonated strongly with the vast Indian diaspora – estimated at 35 million people. And so, non-Indians have also become acquainted with Bollywood cinema. "Since India is the most populous country in the world and a huge market, I don't think Khan even needs to try to increase his popularity," says Wessel.

Referring to Khan's cameo in Ed Sheeran's video "Sapphire", she adds: "I'm pretty sure that for people like Ed Sheeran, it's not only natural but also clever to work with him - and not the other way around."

Khan also seems to effortlessly connect with Generation Z, inspiring mashups, memes, and TikTok videos . These often feature songs from his films—though, as is typical in Indian films, he only lip-syncs and doesn't sing himself. Ultimately, it is he who seems to deliver the songs with expressiveness and feeling.

In 2020, the Canadian-Indian rapper Tesher released the track "Young Shahrukh," which samples a song from Khan's successful 2001 film "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham" (English title: "In Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham") and has over 20 million views on YouTube. Khan himself has danced to this song on several occasions.

Similarly, the hit song "Levitating" by British singer Dua Lipa was mixed in 2020 with "Wo Ladki Jo," a hit from Khan's film "Baadshah" (English: "The King of Love"/1999). Lipa performed this version at a concert in Mumbai last year, incorporating the dance moves from the film, sending fans into a frenzy. Among them was Khan's daughter Suhana, who is now also an actress and posted an Instagram entry with heart emojis.

Timeless icon

Vera Wessel attributes Shah Rukh Khan's enduring popularity to his business acumen, explaining that he was among the first Indian stars to successfully engage with his fans online. His work as a brand ambassador for major companies, some of which he showcases to his 48.8 million Instagram followers, has given him sustained commercial success and a powerful voice. "And whenever he uses that voice, whether in his films or at public appearances, he typically conveys a message of hope and understanding, delivered with simple words and a touch of humor," Wessel adds.

Regarding his acting career, Wessel believes Khan will continue to be a prominent figure in future films. "Because trends come and go, but his popularity seems timeless."

Adapted from the English by Suzanne Cords