Shah Rukh Khan: Two Decades of Pure Feeling

Rahul Desai

The Nerveless Nineties (1991-2000)
For every Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), there was a Chaahat (1996). For every Baazigar (1993), there was an English Babu Desi Mem (1995). For every Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan, there was a Subhash Ghai. Not everything worked, and it didn’t matter.

The Wonder Years (2001-2010)
Believe it or not, this was a near-perfect decade for Khan in terms of consolidating his talent, tempering his fame and playing his age. For every Devdas and Asoka, there was a Paheli. For every Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra, there was a Shimit Amin.

The Dark Night (2011-2020)
The self-reverence lost its sheen: Rahul from Chennai Express and Raj from Dilwale were pale imitations of the past. Even his Ae Dil Hai Mushkil cameo felt strange. It’s not like he didn’t try. But he also tried too hard. His technical innovations in movies like Ra.One, Fan and Zero were stylish, but they came at the cost of substance.

Overall, two (decades) out of three isn’t a bad strike rate. There’s also the matter of sentimentality. Distance has made the heart grow fonder – and needier for all things Shah Rukh Khan.