The king of romance, Badshah of Bollywood; India’s heartthrob Shah Rukh Khan has several designations to his name. From an ordinary middle-class man to making it big in the tinsel town, Shah Rukh Khan has been an inspiration to several people. SRK, as he is lovingly called, has maintained his throne for more than two decades. With his wits, charms, and spectacular performances, he has created a place for himself in all our hearts. Here are the ten best Shah Rukh Khan films that you can’t miss if you are an ardent fan.

1. Swades (2004)

A highly educated man, working abroad wakes up every morning with guilt. He is troubled by the thought of his fellow villagers suffering from water scarcity while he stays in comfort miles away. Who else to play this challenging role other than Shah Rukh Khan himself? One of the cult classics in Indian cinema, Swades wins our hearts with its compelling narrative and love for the nation. Shah Rukh Khan, like always sways us with his impeccable performance.

2. Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008)

Before you judge, let me just say that yes, I know the film is illogical at best but it still manages to entertain us. Shah Rukh Khan switches between the two characters with such ease and maintains impressive comic timing. You can just watch the whole film for him. That’s how brilliant he is in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. The songs are another highlight. They are a hit even after several years.

3. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)

DDLJ made Shah Rukh Khan what he is today. He stole every heart with his charming and cheeky performance. Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan’s chemistry was widely appreciated and even after twenty-five years of the film, they are still an iconic on-screen couple that fans and audience look up to. The dialogues, the scenes, the dressed; everything about the film is iconic. No honest Bollywood fan can ever miss out on this gem.

4. Dear Zindagi (2016)

Though the film was more about Kiara and her struggle with mental illness, Dr.Jug made the whole film the way it is. It is impossible to imagine someone other than Shah Rukh Khan as Dr.Jug. Shah Rukh plays a charming therapist in his mid-40s who helps Kiara overcome her childhood trauma. Unlike other therapists, Dr.Jug has a really casual and friendly approach in interacting with his patients and that is what makes him an instant crush.

5. My Name Is Khan (2010)

To all those who doubt whether Shah Rukh Khan can expand his scope beyond “romantic-hero”, go watch My Name Is Khan to see his range as an actor. Rizwan Khan (Shah Rukh Khan’s character) is an autistic Muslim Indian man who gets involved in certain crimes in San Fransisco. Again paired with his most lovable on-screen lady Kajol, Shah Rukh delivers a spectacular performance and wins all our hearts. The level of perfection with which he plays his autistic character deserves a special mention.

6. Devdas (2002)

The film adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s 1917 novel, Devdas is yet another cult classic in Indian cinema. Starring Aishwariya Rai, Madhuri Dixit, and Shah Rukh Khan, Devdas is about a young law graduate student who is eager to marry his childhood sweetheart Paro (Aishwarya Rai). However, disapproval from his family for the marriage forces him to seek refuge in alcohol and courtesan Chandramukhi (Madhuri Dixit). Shah Rukh, as always, does not fail to amuse us with his brilliant performance.

7. Dil Se… (1998)

In Dil Se we witness a rare and magical chemistry between Shah Rukh Khan and Manisha Koirala. Directed by Mani Ratnam, this romantic thriller is set in the backdrop of the insurgency in Northeast India. Aravind Sami rendered his voice for Shah Rukh Khan in the Tamil dub of the film. Time and again, Shah Rukh only proves us that he is the best romantic hero in Indian cinema.

8. Baazigar (1993)

Shah Rukh Khan’s breakthrough film, Baazigar had established him as a leading commercial hero in Hindi cinema. He plays a young con man who is desperate to seek revenge for his family’s ramifications. The film was a huge commercial success and also introduced us to the epic Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol pair.  Over the years the film has gained a cult classic status and is remembered for its popular dialogues, music, story, and performances.

9. Darr (1993)

Shah Rukh Khan and a villain? Yes, that happened in the film Darr. Shahrukh plays an obsessive stalker who gets mad in love. He is so obsessed with Kiran (Juhi Chawla) that he tries to shoot her fiancé Sunil (Sunny Deol). He plays the manic with perfection and went on to receive several accolades for his terrific performance. Remember people mimicking Shah Rukh with “kkkkk Kiran..”? It’s a reference to this film.

10. Chak De! India (2007)

With Chak De! India, Shah Rukh Khan took a break from his romantic hero designation. He plays a coach to the women’s hockey team and is adamant to bring home the World Cup. Do not do the mistake of comparing him with Akshay Kumar’s “female-uplifter” roles. Kabir Khan (Shah Rukh’s character) has his own shattered dreams and he is not here to ease the lives of the girls of the hockey team. He prepares them to work on themselves and motivates them to play as a team to win the prestigious World cup. The film has several goosebumps moments and is by far one of the best sports dramas ever made in Bollywood.

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