King Khan, Bollywood superstar, King of Romance, Box Office Badshah – Shah Rukh Khan has many titles that sum up his journey in the film industry. For
34 years, he has entertained his audience with a variety of movies. The Hindi cinema industry has evolved since he entered, with the aim of winning the hearts of viewers. One thing that remained constant is his ability to find stories that are not just entertaining, but ahead of their time. Shah Rukh has paved the path for the new generation of actors by taking innumerable risks. Even after establishing himself as a superstar, he never chose the easier path. While Shah Rukh has had blockbusters and multi-crore grossing movies, some have gained cult status over the years. His films, like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Dil To Pagal Hai, Baazigar and Pathaan, were celebrated; there are movies such as Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa and Fan that deserved more appreciation when they released. As Shah Rukh celebrates his birthday today with a special reveal from his upcoming film King, here are his five underrated movies that need to be rewatched.
Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa
In the early years of Shah Rukh Khan’s career, he refused to play the quintessential lover boy. Yes, he had films like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai; Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa broke the pattern in many ways. His character Sunil was not the larger-than-life Bollywood hero. He was simple, innocent and understood a different definition of love. Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa did not gain the recognition it should have when it was released. Over the years, its simplicity and heartwarming performances brought the story to the limelight.
Swades
Not just in Shah Rukh Khan’s filmography, Swades is an underrated film in the history of Hindi cinema. This Ashutosh Gowariker film explored the rural side of India and the conflict between a simple village lifestyle and the city’s standard of living. Swades cannot be confined to one genre. One of his best works, many Bollywood experts and trade pundits predicted a National Award for Khan. However, he did not. Shah Rukh’s first National Award came for Jawan in 2025.
Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman
Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman was a simple story. It followed the journey of Raju, who came from a humble background. As time passed and he succeeded in his professional career, his behaviour and ethics also changed. However, his integrity towards his work remained the same. Before becoming the larger-than-life romance hero, Shah Rukh played roles that resonated with the common man. Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman found its audience much later.
Anjaam
Before Anjaam, Shah Rukh had established himself as the anti-hero with films like Baazigar and Darr. The 1994 thriller gave a new dimension to his career. While he is recognised for the more popular movies, Anjaam got him his first Best Villain award. It was one of the best films and performances in his career.
Fan
Fan was far from perfect, but its efforts deserve acclaim. Indian cinema has never experimented with a story and concept like this Shah Rukh Khan thriller. Fan was about a superstar who faces the heat of a fan’s obsessive love for him. The film, directed by Maneesh Sharma, was ahead of its time. Now, Fan seems more like reality than fiction.
Happy birthday, Shah Rukh Khan! The King is about to arrive and rule the box office before 2026 ends.
