Revealed

SHOW #19

Shah Rukh Khan – King of Bollywood

Shah Rukh Khan is without doubt the toast of Bollywood today. In an industry that boasts worldwide ticket sales in the billions, Shah Rukh Khan has dominated India’s silver screen for over 15 years. Starring in more than 50 Hindi films, Khan's numerous accolades include 13 prestigious Filmfare awards, regarded as the "Bollywood Oscars". $300 tickets to his world dance tours sell out in minutes, he has his own wax work figure in Madame Tussaud's, London, and was awarded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government for his “exceptional career”.

This month’s Revealed goes behind the scenes on Khan’s latest smash hit, Om Shanti Om, where the King of Bollywood will be rehearsing and filming the final dance scene. For Khan, the pressure is mounting as this is the second major film to be released by his own production company. Not only is the scale of the production larger and more ambitious than the first, but Khan is launching newcomers in lead roles, a risky strategy in an industry heavily reliant on its star system to draw in the large crowds. Success is crucial if Khan is to build his company and join the ranks of the handful of major production houses in Mumbai. With completion nearing, Khan takes us on set in Mumbai, where we gain a unique insight into rehearsals with his choreographers, filming with director and close friend Farah Khan, set builds, hair, make-up, lights, camera and shimmies!

Khan describes his journey from penniless actor to leading light of an industry monopolized by film dynasties and insiders. In a country where there is great passion for cinema, Khan has risen to the status of a demi-god and his posters sell alongside that of monkey god Hanuman in the holy streets of Varinasi. We visit a Mumbai cinema where his most successful film has been continuously running for 12 years. Selling out every night, people are still fighting to get a ticket to watch their hero. But the true test will be in London, where Om Shanti Om becomes the first mainstream Bollywood film to have its world premiere in the industry's iconic Leicester Square.

From set build to premiere, Revealed sheds new light on the snake-hipped legend of Bollywood, King Khan.