Shah Rukh Khan came at the top of the Time100 survey of 2023, in which readers voted for people who, according to them, deserved the most place on the annual list of the most influential people in the time.
The actor of Bollywood, who in 2016 had been qualified by the CNN, as the largest movie star in the world, also producer and co -owner of Knight Riders Group (a franchise which brings together several teams of crickets) obtained 4 % of the votes of more than 1.2 million votes expressed, thus ahead of big celebrities, as actress Michelle Yeoh, The athlete Serena Williams and even the CEO of Meta (Facebook) Mark Zuckerberg.
Shah Rukh Khan, who is considered the most famous actor in India and an international icon in its own right, has played in more than 100 films during his career, becoming Bollywood’s favorite romantic hero, while being one of the first Indian actors to play complex characters. He notably played in blockbusters like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) and My name is khan (2010).
Despite the call for boycott on the part of Hindu extremists, his last film Pathaanreleased last January, is one of the most profitable films of 2023, harvesting so far, nearly $ 130 million in several countries, including the USA, the United Kingdom and Canada. The film will soon be distributed in China, Japan and South America. Released on the Amazon Prime Video platform on March 22, Pathaan There became number 1 in 39 countries and world number 2 from the first 24 hours. Unfortunately to date, the film has not been distributed in Tunisia.
The popularity of Khan has continued to grow over the years. He has become an emblematic figure of Bollywood and an icon of Indian culture worldwide. However, if his career is an example of success in the Indian film industry, he is also known for his commitment to many philanthropic causes and for his social activism.
Its foundation Meer Foundationfor example, works to promote women’s education and health in India and particularly help women victims of acid attacks. In addition, his appointment as a UNESCO goodwill ambassador for the promotion of peace culture in 2011 testifies to his commitment to peace and tolerance.
Shah Rukh Khan is also a symbol of modern and united India. Born into a Muslim middle class of Delhi and married to a Hindu, he embodies Indian pluralism and multiculturalism and this is reflected in his cinematographic work. As an actor, he dared to play characters who come out of codes and conventions, exploring themes such as religious tensions, discrimination and political divisions and pushing to tolerance and acceptance of the other. For example, in his film My name is khanwhich denounces anti-Muslim racism in the United States after the September 11 attacks, Shah Rukh Khan brought his attachment to his religion and peaceful cohabitation between people. Like him, Rizvan Khan, his Muslim hero is married to a Hindu woman and was annoyed because of his religion.
Venerated by his fans as a half-god, Shah Rukh Khan is hated by certain Hindu extremists of which he has become the target. While Bollywood films had always celebrated a plural India, under the government of Narendra Modi, Indian cinema was used as a propaganda tool to promote Hindu nationalism and denounce Muslims. Indeed, the Modi government uses all the institutions at its disposal to put the film industry in step and restrict the creative freedom of Bollywood, in particular the influence of Muslims, who have a strong presence in this industry.
Shah Rukh Khan has never abandoned his Muslim faith and was not defined by the latter. He seduced the public beyond social and religious cleavages. It is also an example of courage and perseverance. Although he suffered severe pressure, he refused to join the rest of the industry in his flattering praise of the Modi government. His voice was more discreet, but his commitment to tolerance and peace remains intact.
To make him fold, in October 2021, his son, Aryan Khan, was arrested in a drug trafficking case and spent almost a month behind bars before all the accusations against him were ultimately abandoned. It was obvious from the start that the young man was innocent, but that his father was targeted. This arrest was largely considered as an act of repression against the Khan family, in particular given their high status in Indian society and their religious affiliation. Khan had to face intense pressure from the authorities, undergoing an implacable defamation campaign, but he held out.
Despite these challenges, Shah Rukh Khan remains a model for millions of people worldwide, inspiring by his cinematographic work and his social commitment. His victory in the Time100 Reader Poll 2023 survey is a well -deserved recognition of its influence and its impact on world society.
The second place in the survey was attributed to Iranian women who protested for greater freedoms against the country’s Islamic regime. They were followed in third position by health workers who have been on the front line in the fight against the world pandemic since 2020. Prince Harry and Meghan have obtained fourth place, while Lionel Messi came in fifth position.
Neïla Driss
