King of Bollywood (book)
| Company type | Biography book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | August 9, 2007 |
| Founder | Anupama Chopra |
| Products | Biography of Shah Rukh Khan |
King of Bollywood is a biography authored by film critic and journalist Anupama Chopra that explores the life and professional journey of Shah Rukh Khan. The book delves into his personal history, beginning with his birth in 1965 in New Delhi and his marriage to Gauri Chibber in 1991. It also highlights his multifaceted career as an actor, producer, and television host. Released by Grand Central Publishing on 9 August 2007, the biography was both commercially successful and critically praised for Chopra’s engaging narrative style.
The idea for the book originated while Chopra was researching Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (2002). She approached Khan with the proposal in 2003, and after persistent efforts over six months, he consented. The three-year project included extensive interviews with Khan’s close associates such as friends, educators, and collaborators.
Summary
The biography opens by outlining the backgrounds of Khan’s parents—Indian freedom fighter Meer Taj Mohammed Khan and Lateef Fatima. Born on 2 November 1965 in New Delhi, Khan was raised in a Muslim household in Rajendra Nagar. His television debut came with Fauji (1989), where he portrayed an army officer. After dating for six years, he wed Gauri Chibber, a Punjabi Hindu, in 1991; their children Aryan and Suhana were born in 1997 and 2000 respectively.
Khan’s first film appearance was in Deewana (1992), which enjoyed commercial success and earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut. In 1993, he achieved both critical acclaim and box office success with his antagonist roles in Baazigar and Darr, securing his first Best Actor trophy for the former.
In 1995, Khan portrayed a young non-resident Indian in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, alongside co-star Kajol. The film became a blockbuster hit and holds the record as the longest-running movie in Indian cinema history, earning him a second Filmfare Best Actor award. Other significant hits during the 1990s include Karan Arjun (1995), Pardes (1997), Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998).
In 2000, Khan partnered with actress Juhi Chawla to establish the production company Dreamz Unlimited, which was renamed Red Chillies Entertainment in 2003. Their inaugural film, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (2000), did not perform well commercially. Following this, Khan starred in prominent films such as Mohabbatein (2000) and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001), both featuring veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan. He then took on the role of an alcoholic protagonist in Devdas (2002), which at the time was India’s most expensive cinematic production. The biography concludes with Khan hosting the third season of Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2007.
Development and writing
The inception of King of Bollywood came about during Anupama Chopra’s interviews with Khan for her 2002 publication on Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. As an admirer of Khan, Chopra was inspired by his magnetic persona, personal life story, and prominence as one of India’s foremost actors. She described him as "a complete entertainer, on and off screen," emphasizing his eloquence and accessibility. In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, she characterized the book as "an effort to examine Hindi cinema and India" through the lens of Khan’s career.
Chopra introduced the concept to Khan in mid-2003. Initially hesitant and somewhat embarrassed by the attention, Khan questioned why he warranted such focus. However, after persistent encouragement spanning six months—including approximately 30 hours of discussions even during his filming schedule for Paheli in Jaipur—he consented to participate.
The undertaking lasted three years, coinciding with Khan’s own unfinished autobiography titled 20 Years to a Decade. The narrative opens with a brief profile of Bhavesh Sheth, one of Khan’s fans whom Chopra interviewed alongside around 80 others including friends, educators, and prominent directors like Harry Baweja, Karan Johar, and Aditya Chopra. Chopra cited the chapter about Khan’s parents as particularly compelling due to their remarkable life experiences.
Release
King of Bollywood marked Chopra's third literary work following Sholay: The Making of a Classic (2000) and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (2002). The book was launched in the United States by Grand Central Publishing on 9 August 2007 during an event organized by the Indo-American Arts Council and the South Asian Journalists Association. It holds the distinction of being the first publication on Indian cinema released in the U.S. Simultaneously, Om Books International handled its distribution in India, with a Marathi edition issued shortly after in early September through Ameya Prakashan. Westland Books oversaw distribution in other international markets. The book was also translated into several languages, including Hindi and German. Within ten days, the English version sold over 10,000 copies, while the Marathi edition moved 900 copies during its initial week. On 2 October, the book became available on Amazon Kindle. Additionally, an Indonesian version titled Shah Rukh Khan: The King of Bollywood was published by Penerbit Hikmah in August 2008.
Critical reception
The reception for King of Bollywood was largely favorable, with reviewers commending Chopra's lucid and captivating narrative style. Faridoon Shahryar from Bollywood Hungama described her prose as "straightforward, informative, [and] absorbing," although he mentioned occasional awkward translations of Hindi film titles into English. Chandan Mitra of India Today praised the book’s comprehensive portrayal of Hindi cinema, noting its appeal to readers worldwide.
Meghna Desai of Outlook lauded Chopra for producing a clear and accessible work, distinguishing it from other Hindi cinema books that she found either tedious or filled with gossip. Charles Taylor from The New York Times Book Review referred to it as a "lively" and "brilliant" biography. An Indo-Asian News Service reviewer appreciated its intimate yet concise depiction of Shah Rukh Khan, highlighting its humor and avoidance of overly academic tone. Savitha Gautam writing for The Hindu emphasized the straightforwardness and approachability of the writing, suggesting that readers would develop a greater appreciation for Khan through this biography. Similarly, Publishers Weekly described it as an unexpectedly enjoyable read.