Shah Rukh Khan turns 61

Bollywood  Badshah Shah Rukh Khan turns 61 today. Over more than three decades, the actor has established himself as one of Hindi cinema’s most recognised stars. However, his journey from Delhi to Bollywood was shaped by unexpected setbacks, difficult decisions and opportunities he initially hesitated to accept.

As the superstar celebrates his birthday, here are seven lesser-known stories from Shah Rukh Khan: legend, icon, star, available on Audible, that offer a closer look at his personal life and career.

A sports injury pushed towards acting 

Before entering films, Shah Rukh dreamed of becoming a sportsman. However, a lower-back injury forced him to abandon those ambitions and left him bedridden for nearly six weeks.

At that time, his mother encouraged him to pursue an evening activity, leading him to a production of Annie Get Your Gun at Delhi’s Lady Shri Ram College. He joined the chorus as a singer and dancer, marking an early step towards acting.

Shah Rukh initially rejected the idea of playing Raj in DDLJ

It is difficult to imagine Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge without Shah Rukh Khan, but the actor was initially unconvinced by Aditya Chopra’s story.

Recalling the narration in Netflix’s The Romantics, Shah Rukh said, “I was shocked. I didn’t know what to say.”

Despite his reservations, Shah Rukh eventually agreed to play Raj, a character that became central to his romantic screen image.

The actor once defended himself against accusations of arrogance

In 1992, Shah Rukh faced criticism for insisting that filmmakers approach him with complete stories and properly written dialogues.

Responding to accusations of arrogance, he said, “Agar self-respect ko arrogance boltey hai, toh haan main arrogant hoon.”

For Shah Rukh, understanding the character and script was an essential part of his work rather than an unreasonable demand.

Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri's love story faced family opposition

Shah Rukh first approached Gauri at a party in Delhi, where she initially told him she was waiting for her boyfriend to discourage his attention.

Their relationship later faced opposition from her family, including concerns about their different religious backgrounds.

Finally, the couple married in 1991, before Shah Rukh made his Hindi film debut.

After Zero failed, Shah Rukh Khan started making pizzas

Following the disappointing reception of “Zero”, Shah Rukh stepped away from acting and stopped listening to film scripts for some time. During his break, he built a small kitchen and began learning how to make pizzas.

Shah Rukh Khan was nervous about Chak De! India

Although the audience were familiar with Shah Rukh’s romantic roles, “Chak De! India” presented him in a different light.

He portrayed Kabir Khan, a former hockey player who takes charge of the Indian women’s national hockey team.

The character demanded a restrained performance built around discipline, teamwork and redemption, rather than the romantic charm audiences had come to associate with the actor.

Shah Rukh always wanted to become an action hero

Long before “Pathaan”, Shah Rukh wanted to establish himself as an action star.

However, Aditya Chopra encouraged him to pursue romance with Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, a decision that significantly influenced his career.