KARACHI:
In one of the crucial iconic scenes from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Shah Rukh Khan teeters on the sting of each lady’s worst nightmare. His character, Raj, finds himself locked in a practice compartment with Simran (Kajol). Simran is reserved, conventional, and decidedly uninterested within the charming however invasive stranger decided to disturb her solitude.
She would not assault instantly. When Raj awkwardly quips, “Nobody’s residence,” after knocking uselessly on the compartment door, Simran affords a well mannered smile and turns her consideration to her ebook. However Raj, like so many males earlier than him, would not misinterpret the indicators – he blatantly ignores them. What follows is an escalating collection of humiliations: Raj reveals off her lingerie with a smirk, sings “Tum mein, ek dabbe mein band hoon”, places on his sun shades and curls up subsequent to her. When Simran firmly says, “Please depart me alone,” Raj doesn’t simply dismiss her resistance; he scoffs, resting his head shamelessly on her lap.
If Simran had been requested whether or not she would quite share that compartment with a person or a bear, the reply would have been apparent. But DDLJ stays a timeless love story – a cornerstone of the Bollywood romantic canon.
It additionally serves as a prototype for Shah Rukh’s model of on-screen masculinity: one which softens boundary-pushing conduct with an irresistible attraction, blurring the strains between flirtation and coercion. This archetype, rooted in old-school, working-class romance, just isn’t solely central to Shah Rukh’s persona – it has knowledgeable and sustained the Bollywood narrative for many years, proving sturdy and worthwhile.
An odd legacy
2023 marked Shah Rukh’s thunderous return, a 12 months by which he dominated the field workplace with Pathaan and Jawan, cementing his place as Bollywood’s reigning star. His return wasn’t simply cinematic; it was cultural, sparking renewed adoration from followers and a frenzy of discourse surrounding his legacy.
In 2024, Shah Rukh redefined what film stardom may imply – and demand – in a globalized, hyper-connected period of Indian cinema. On the twenty fourth Worldwide Indian Movie Academy Awards (IIFA), his efficiency in Jawan received him the Greatest Actor award. On the finish of the 12 months, below the starry skies of Switzerland, he grew to become the primary Indian artist to obtain the Turismo Pardo alla Carriera Ascona-Locarno award on the 77th Locarno Movie Pageant. In the meantime, the Web has established him as a feminist icon, a title supported by his feedback on gender equality and thoroughly chosen gestures of respect for ladies.
Two years earlier than DDLJ, Shah Rukh was a brand new and promising villain. His portrayal of Rahul Mehra in Darr (1993) was sinister and obsessive, outlined by the chilling refrain, “Tu haan kar ya na kar, tu hai meri Kiran”. In each Darr and Baazigar, Shah Rukh embodied a menacing depth, incomes him acclaim as a well-liked anti-hero. However these movies barely hinted on the softer, extra insistent romantic persona that might later crown him King Khan.
The Shah Rukh Khan adored by ladies did not all the time include rippling six-packs, veiny biceps or shirtless shows below waterfalls – that continues to be Salman Khan’s territory. As a substitute, Shah Rukh’s attraction has all the time been rooted in his boyish charisma and sharp wit. As an actor, his performances are strong, though they’re typically overshadowed by his extraordinary stardom. He’s, and all the time has been, the nation’s undefeated darling. And make no mistake: he loves ladies.
Off-screen, Shah Rukh just isn’t too far faraway from his on-screen persona. Positive, he will not lose his shirt to disclose a sculpted chest – that is nonetheless Salman Khan’s specialty – however he reveres ladies. Name it SRK feminism. “How did you bewitch ladies everywhere in the world?” a girl requested him at a public occasion. “I’ve numerous free time. Each time I see a lady, I am going there…”, Shah Rukh jokes with fun earlier than including in a severe tone: “For ladies, love means respect, and I respect all ladies. That is why they They love me very a lot.”
Discovering an escape
There was a time when Shah Rukh was the article of uncritical adoration. Loving him, having fun with Bollywood and even supporting artists deemed “problematic” after cancellation has been relegated to the realm of responsible pleasures. Within the quick aftermath of #MeToo, the stress was palpable: manage a catalog of offenses, nonetheless minor or main, and chorus from leniency – at the least with out first issuing a press release of disapproval.
Years after #MeToo, this stress has metamorphosed into private manifestos that should account for all the things consumed. It is probably not sufficient to like Shah Rukh and never know what his legacy means to ladies.
However the place Shah Rukh’s romanticized masculinity matches into feminist discourse has not all the time been on the forefront. It takes selective amnesia or being born in a later era to overlook the rumors about his alleged affair with Priyanka Chopra or how his on-screen avatars impressed numerous males to pursue ladies who clearly stated no. Shah Rukh has all the time been beloved however not all the time praised.
lady man
What fantasy does Shah Rukh Khan actually provide? From Dil To Pagal Hai (1997) to Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham… (2001), he reimagines himself as the identical wide-eyed, passionate romantic who thrives on the fun of unrequited affection. However to indulge on this fantasy you might want to see your self as Madhuri Dixit or Kajol – by no means as Karisma Kapoor or Rani Mukerji, whose characters are conveniently ignored within the grand narrative of their romantic pursuits.
In a 2017 BuzzFeed article, Sonia Mariam Thomas laments the expertise of watching Shah Rukh via the lens of a South Indian viewer, pointing to the stereotypes in Ra.One, the informal racism in Chennai Categorical, and the slut-shaming in Jab Harry Met Sejal. These moments reveal a troubling undercurrent in a few of his most celebrated movies, although their attraction stays a robust distraction.
Relying on you and your algorithm’s allegiance, Shah Rukh could seem as a feminist icon in your social media feed or he could also be seen alongside Anushka Sharma, overtly telling her that the very first thing he notices about ladies is her ” butt”. This can be a joke, he clarifies. In an interview with Preity Zinta, he asks if she is pregnant and decides to counter the silence with one other joke. “I can get you pregnant,” he tells her.
He additionally has one for Girl Gaga. In a wierd and transient clip, the place the 2 share a settee in entrance of an viewers, he says: “Whenever you went out purchasing, I imagine you did not have sufficient cash to purchase issues. Then he will get proper up near Girl Gaga as she protests, “No, I do not need that. Give it to a fan.” That is additionally a joke as he’s a really humorous man.
The 12 months could have belonged to Shah Rukh, a veteran star basking within the glow of a monumental 2023. However his legacy casts a shadow. It is a sort of misogyny that is not born from brute drive, however from the attraction, the straightforward charisma of a person that makes you overlook, for a second, to query the narrative he is promoting. Maybe what followers can depart behind in 2024 is the naive expectation that somebody they love – who occurs to be well-known – embodies a politics of progress. Star energy, in the long run, could also be its means to make us look the opposite manner.
