For more than 25 years and 88 films, Shah Rukh Khan still continues to entertain audiences. His has been a career marked by transitions. First from a TV star to a Bollywood villain and then to romantic hero; the success of which led to creation of a superstar image; from there his occasional, not so successful trysts with action and ultimately to his current position and image, from which he is trying to break away by venturing into unconventional roles.
On the actor’s 53rd birthday, here’s a playlist comprising of songs from the later stages of his career.
‘Dard-e-Disco’ – Om Shanti Om (2007)
The song that probably spearheaded the six-pack frenzy in the country, a situation was cleverly created and carefully shoehorned into the story to accommodate the song. Nevertheless, viewers seemed to have scant regard for Vishal Shekhar’s music or Javed Akhtar’s lyrics as long as they were seeing Shah Rukh Khan’s chiselled and oiled torso.
‘Haule Haule’ – Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008)
The movie was Shah Rukh Khan’s comeback to his forte – romance, after a long time. His previous full-fledged romantic outing was in 2004 with Veer-Zaara. The first song to be released from the movie; a love-struck Shah Rukh Khan dancing in the alleys was a delight to watch. Like the previous song, here too Sukhwinder Singh (with whom Shah Rukh Khan delivered the hit ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ in the past) lends his voice to the actor.
‘Chammak Challo’ – Ra.One (2011)
The movie and the song came at a juncture when the star was deliberately trying his hand at action. Famous for its extravagant budget then but now for its extensive marketing campaign undertaken, the movie pulled out all stops when it came to publicity. This explains why Vishal and Shekhar – the music directors got international pop star Akon to sing the song.
‘Gerua’ – Dilwale (2015)
Though Pritam’s music in the song gets repetitive after a while with the hook line ‘Rang De Tu Mohe Gerua’ keeps popping up and borders on annoying (despite Arijit Singh’s voice), what keeps the viewer hooked is the hit pair of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. It can be said that director Rohit Shetty managed to recreate the magic of ‘Suraj Hua Madham’ at least partially through the song.
‘Jabra’ – Fan (2016)
Sung by Nakash Aziz and composed by Vishal Shekhar the song was shot as a promotional video and never featured in the movie. Playing the role of an obsessive fan who resembles his idol in looks, Shah Rukh Khan takes to the streets to dance. Varun Grover has penned the lyrics that talk about the adulation a fan has for the idol. The unwavering energy the man possesses is what makes the song a delight to watch.
