Perhaps there is no movie star on earth with more fans than the “King of Bollywood” aka Shah Rukh. Many Americans, probably unaware of this fact, could learn about it from Ms. Marvel, whose protagonist admires the dreamy legend. “There is no such thing as bad Shahrukh Khan cinema,” she says, and without confirming or denying it, it’s hard to say that he is one of the most attractive performers in the world. Whether it’s a romantic hero, a god-like figure, a goof or a demented psychopath, Khan always finds a way to steal the show and your heart. These films serve as an incomplete but comprehensive introduction to his work.

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Raj Malhotra in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)

If you’re going to watch one SRK movie, this is it. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge it is one of the most beloved Indian films of all time; it’s the same catapulted Khan to superstardom and began his transition from villainous to romantic roles. Khan plays Raj, a carefree, wealthy student living in London who falls deeply in love with Simran (Kajol) while hiking in Switzerland. To win over her conservative family, Raj reveals the layers of his childlike appearance, showing that he is equally concerned with Indian tradition, piety and dedication. DDLV not only changed Khan’s career, but also helped shape his image as a cosmopolitan NRI (non-resident Indian) who is always able to combine his mundane with love for his traditions and his native country. This is also an example of his great chemistry with Kajol, who will play his love interest time and time again.

Aman Mathur in Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)

As the Khan legend grew, it became almost inevitable in his films; he often plays characters with an uncanny ability to improve the lives of everyone around him. AT Kal Ho Naa Ho, Khan can flaunt all his signature features. He is excessively jovial and witty, rich and well adjusted in the United States. He is also incredibly generous and sentimental, and can queue up waterworks without warning in any melodramatic situation. As Aman, he brings joy to the life of his new neighbor Naina (Pretty Zinta) and her best friend Rohit (Saif Ali Khan). Naina inevitably falls in love with him, but he devises a plan to make her fall in love with Rohit for heartbreaking, spoiler reasons. This film is emotional, bombastic and perhaps the most Shah Rukh Khan of all Shah Rukh Khan’s performances.

Amarkant Varma in Dil Se.. (1998)

Another important aspect of Khan’s personality is that when he wants to be with a woman, he really, really wants to be with her. (more on this later). A striking example of this is Dil Se.. where he plays Amarkant, a big city radio journalist who falls hopelessly in love with Megna (Manisha Koraila), an Assamese separatist who does not reciprocate his feelings. Weaving a real political conflict with forbidden love creates high drama and a very tense performance by Khan. It hurts a little to watch him ignore the countless rebuffs, no matter how perceptive his eyes are. It’s rare to see Khan’s character fail so miserably to get what he wants, and the unbridled emotion he delivers in his unrequited quest is unsettling. As it slowly evolves into a political thriller, Khan gets the opportunity to play an action hero, but he can’t play a tough killer, instead using his unbridled emotions to get himself out of difficult situations. It is a very tense watch, but it also has beautiful musical sequences such as the classical Chaiya Chaiya.

Rahul Mehra in Darr (1993)

Before DDLV, Khan has already made a decent name for himself by playing psychopathic villains. Like Rahul in Darr (also known as Darr: A Cruel Love Story) Khan makes his speech in Dil Se.. seem quite normal. Rahul is in love with KiranJuhi Chawla), but not in a nice way. Despite her relationship with Sunil (Sunny Deol)Rahul insists that he have her, and so he stalks her across the country, calling her late at night and occasionally looking right through her window. Oh, and he also carves her name into his chest, tries to kill her boyfriend, and slowly ingratiate herself with her extended family. He calls his late mother’s phone every night, and shockingly, he doesn’t have many friends. It’s disorienting when Khan plays such an evil character, but it’s easy to see how he’ll become a star; despite being the third in line, he completely steals everyone’s attention from other characters and infuses life energy every time he appears on the screen. And that assertiveness, those burning eyes—you almost sympathize with him just because he wants her so damn much!

Rizwan “Rizzu” Khan in My Name is Khan (2010)

One of the most daring roles of Khan’s career is a tear-jerker film where he plays Rizwan Khan, a man with Asperberg syndrome living overseas in San Francisco. Despite his social difficulties, he still radiates SRK’s charms and defeats Mandira (Kajol) and her son Sameer (Arjun Aujla). But after 9/11, Islamophobia and tragedy descend on his family, and he goes on a quest to let the world know he’s not a terrorist. Khan plays his part in a very nervous manner, avoiding eye contact and stuttering, which is hard to adjust to at first given his incredible presence. Despite the delicacy of such a role and his ostentatious interpretation, it escalates to such an extent that his syndrome becomes just another detail of his heroic, well-realized character. He also turns out to be a typical messianic Khan character, as he inadvertently starts a national campaign for religious tolerance.

Om Prakash Mahija / Om Kapoor in Om Shanti Om (2007)

This tribute to Bollywood’s illustrious history is perhaps the funniest entry on this list. Khan plays Om Mahija, a struggling actor who is reborn as superstar Om Kapoor after dying in an accident. Like Mahija, Khan is somewhat pathetic but sweet. As Kapoor, Khan plays an overconfident, insipid superstar who gradually softens to reveal her spirits. While Khan seems too self-aware and attractive to play a fictionalized version of himself, he still knows exactly how to play a tough guy. And this film proves that he deserves it, as his comedic gift is shown here in full force. Full of luxurious scenery and numerous episodes from Bollywood legends, Ohm is a relatively light-hearted memory lane jaunt and has Han on a lighter mode than usual.

Mohan Bhargava in Swades (2004)

Another word to describe Khan’s acting style would be “big”. But in Swades, he exhibits a level of restraint and naturalism that is difficult to find in his other works. As Mohan, a NASA engineer living in D.C. whose life changes after returning home to India, Khan gradually transforms from a brash expat into a humble observer of Indian village life. He does most of it without any of the one-liners, over-the-top lust, or sobs that define his on-screen image. True to the film’s realism, he is calm and scholarly as he helps modernize the village of Charanpur using his scientific knowledge and ability to unite the villagers. It’s a classic role for Khan in that he plays an NRI who easily changes the lives of so many people around him, but it also proves that when given the opportunity, he can really melt into the character.