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Shah Rukh Khan (also credited as Shahrukh Khan) is an Indian actor, producer and television personality. Khan began his acting career on television by playing a soldier in the Doordarshan series Fauji (1988), a role that garnered him recognition and led to starring roles in more television shows. He soon started receiving offers for film roles and had his first release with the romantic drama Deewana (1992), in which he played a supporting part. Khan subsequently played the antagonist of the 1993 thrillers Baazigar and Darr, box office hits that established his career in Bollywood. In 1995, Khan starred opposite Kajol in Aditya Chopra's romance Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, that became the longest running Indian film of all time. He continued to establish a reputation in romantic roles by playing opposite Madhuri Dixit in Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), and Kajol in the Karan Johar-directed blockbusters Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001).
In 1999, Khan collaborated with Aziz Mirza and actress Juhi Chawla to start a production company, Dreamz Unlimited, whose first release was the comedy-drama Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (2000) starring Khan and Chawla. The film was a commercial failure as was their next production, Aśoka (2001), which led critics to believe that the end of Khan's career was imminent. Khan's career prospects, however, improved in 2002 when Sanjay Leela Bhansali cast him alongside Dixit and Aishwarya Rai as a depressed lover in Devdas, a period romance that garnered Khan critical acclaim. In 2004, he collaborated with his wife Gauri Khan to launch another company, Red Chillies Entertainment, whose first feature was the box office hit Main Hoon Na (2004). Khan's popularity continued to increase in the 2000s as he played the romantic lead opposite younger actresses, most notably Rani Mukerji and Preity Zinta, in several top-grossing productions, including Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) and Veer-Zaara (2004). He also played against type as a NASA scientist in the drama Swades (2004), a hockey coach in the sports film Chak De! India (2007), and an autistic man in the drama My Name Is Khan (2010). From 2007 onwards, Khan began to star opposite a third generation of heroines, most notably opposite Deepika Padukone in Om Shanti Om (2007) and Anushka Sharma in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008). Khan went on to co-star with Padukone in the over ₹3.4 billion (US$51 million) grossing action-comedies Chennai Express (2013) and Happy New Year (2014), both of which rank among the highest-grossing Bollywood films.
Seventeen of Khan's films have grossed over ₹1 billion (US$15 million) in global ticket sales. With eight Filmfare Awards for Best Actor, he shares the record for the most wins in the category with Dilip Kumar. Khan has also starred in several non-fiction films that have documented his popularity, including the Nasreen Munni Kabir-directed documentary The Inner and Outer World of Shah Rukh Khan (2005). From 2003 onwards, he has hosted several award ceremonies, including eight Filmfare Awards and six Screen Awards. In addition, he has featured as the host of four television game shows, including Kaun Banega Crorepati (2007).