THE GLOBAL ELITE

41: Shahrukh Khan

The king of Bollywood is opening minds in some closed-off cultures.

Rajesh Nirgude / AP

Shahrukh Khan

NEWSWEEK

Published Dec 20, 2008

From the magazine issue dated Jan 5, 2009

Email To A Friend

Please fill in the following information and we'll email this link.

Who is the world's biggest movie star? Brad? Will? Nah. His name is Shahrukh Khan, and he's the king of Bollywood. It's not just that his romantic flicks make gazillions—it's where those gazillions come from. Khan is huge in the Muslim world, even in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where the mullahs ban his films. (The movies thrive on the black market.) Their main appeal is certainly the song-and-dance numbers, but Khan (a Muslim married to a Hindu) makes devoutly secular films where love trounces bigotry. Sonia Gandhi gives Khan's DVDs to visitors, especially Muslim ones. Here's hoping tolerance will leap from reel life to real life.

No. 40: Jeff Bezos

COVER STORY: THE GLOBAL ELITE

The Story of Power

Jon Meacham

The study of power is not only diverting (which Homer and Shakespeare knew), but illuminating. A biography of an ancient human impulse.

Preview Article

Member Comments

- Reply
- Report Abuse
Posted By: Suraj- @ 03/28/2009 10:31:01 AM

u just committed the greatest sin ever.
- Reply
- Report Abuse
Posted By: Suraj- @ 03/28/2009 10:29:25 AM

king , king and king that's the only describtion i have for this man. gawd- the way he smiles with his lips downwards, somethin, no particle ever can replicate. the way he looks romantically, most uninterested girl (for boys) would fall in love. the way he runs in kkhh, even usain bolt is no pleasing sight to watch running before him & the way he comes out of water.... from the romantic veer to intoxicated villanous don to the realistic stern kabir, he's unmatchable.
-i am gay when the man is SRK-
- Reply
- Report Abuse
Posted By: Suraj- @ 03/28/2009 10:16:27 AM

the knig of boolywood is not alone ruling indian hearts but the world's too. in europe he's said to be loved more than tom cruise. he is the inspiration and god for the most people in the world. he is undoubtedly the greatest celeb icon ever, even greater than elvis and marlyn. he is truly one of the most powerful men in terms of influence and command he has over the people across the globe.