Shah Rukh Khan’s career timeline runs from the 1989 TV show Fauji to his 2023 National Film Award for Best Actor for Jawan. Along the way he made Deewana, DDLJ, Devdas and Chak De! India, built Red Chillies Entertainment and co-owns KKR. His next film, King, is set for release on 24 December 2026.
With King now a little over two months away, here is a clear, year-by-year look at how SRK got here, based on verified records and reported news.
1989 to 1992: Television first, then films
Shah Rukh Khan started on television. His first show was meant to be Dil Dariya, but it was delayed, so Fauji (1989) became his debut. He also appeared in Circus (1989 to 1990), the series that made his face familiar across Indian homes.
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His film debut came with Deewana (1992), which won him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut. It was the first sign that the move from TV to cinema would work.
1993 to 1995: Anti-hero roles and the DDLJ moment
In 1993, he took on dark roles in Baazigar and Darr. Few leading men of that time were willing to play obsessive or villainous characters, and both films got him strong notice.
Then came Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995). The Aditya Chopra film, opposite Kajol, fixed his image as the romantic hero of Hindi cinema. It is still one of the most talked-about Bollywood films of all time.
1998 to 2007: The big romantic and sports years
This stretch gave fans many of his best-known films:
- Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998): Karan Johar’s debut film, again with Kajol.
- Devdas (2002): Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s period drama, which earned him critical praise.
- Chak De! India (2007): He played hockey coach Kabir Khan, one of his most respected performances.
- Om Shanti Om (2007): Farah Khan’s reincarnation drama and a major commercial hit.
Off screen, his production company Dreamz Unlimited became Red Chillies Entertainment in 2004. In 2005 he received the Padma Shri, and in 2007 France gave him the Order of Arts and Letters.
2008 to 2014: Cricket, Khan and global honours
In 2008, he co-acquired the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise in the IPL. KKR went on to win the title in 2012, 2014 and 2024.
My Name Is Khan (2010) won him his eighth Filmfare Award for Best Actor, which equalled Dilip Kumar’s record in that category, according to his Wikipedia record. In 2014, France honoured him again with the Legion of Honour.
2023: Pathaan, Jawan and Dunki
After a gap of a few years, 2023 became one of the biggest years of his career. Pathaan and Jawan each grossed over Rs 1,000 crore worldwide, and Dunki, directed by Rajkumar Hirani, grossed over Rs 470 crore.
2025: First National Film Award and the Met Gala
On 1 August 2025, the 71st National Film Awards named Shah Rukh Khan Best Actor for Jawan. He shared the award with Vikrant Massey, who won for 12th Fail. It was SRK’s first National Award after more than three decades in films, as reported by Deccan Herald.
President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on 23 September 2025. Rani Mukerji won Best Actress at the same ceremony for Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway.
Earlier in 2025, he also made his Met Gala debut in New York, wearing an all-black look by Sabyasachi, as covered by The Hollywood Reporter India.
2026: What we know about King
King is an action thriller directed by Siddharth Anand, who earlier made Pathaan. It is produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures, and is scheduled to release in theatres on 24 December 2026, according to The Hollywood Reporter India.
Key facts about the film so far:
- Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Suhana Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Jaideep Ahlawat and Raghav Juyal.
- Suhana Khan: King marks her big-screen debut. She earlier appeared in the Netflix film The Archies.
- Villain: Abhishek Bachchan has been reported as the main antagonist.
- Languages: Hindi, with dubbed versions planned in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and English.
- Director change: Sujoy Ghosh was first attached; Siddharth Anand took over in December 2024. Ghosh is still credited for the story.
The film entered its final phase of shooting in August 2026, according to reports collected on its Wikipedia page. The Christmas release puts it in the busiest stretch of the year for Indian cinema.
Quick timeline at a glance
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1989 | TV debut with Fauji |
| 1992 | Film debut with Deewana |
| 1995 | Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge |
| 2004 | Red Chillies Entertainment formed |
| 2005 | Padma Shri |
| 2008 | Co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders |
| 2023 | Pathaan, Jawan and Dunki |
| 2025 | First National Film Award, for Jawan |
| 2026 | King releases on 24 December |
For more star profiles, browse our Celebs section, and for film news, head to Bollywood.
Frequently asked questions
When is Shah Rukh Khan’s King releasing?
King is scheduled to release in theatres on 24 December 2026. It is directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures.
Which film won Shah Rukh Khan his National Award?
He won Best Actor at the 71st National Film Awards for Jawan (2023). He shared the award with Vikrant Massey, who won for 12th Fail.
What was Shah Rukh Khan’s first film?
His first released film was Deewana (1992), which won him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut. Before that, he acted in the TV shows Fauji and Circus.
Is Suhana Khan in King?
Yes. King marks Suhana Khan’s big-screen debut, and she appears alongside her father in the film.
