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Mumbai, Nov 2: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan , the most popular actor of Indian cinema, second only to mega superstar Amitabh Bachchan , turns 41 on Thursday November 2.

SRK was born in 1965 in New Delhi in a Pathan family. He did his schooling from St. Columba`s School and got a Bachelors degree from Hansraj College. He later completed Masters in Mass Communications from Center for Mass Communication, Jamia Milia Islamia. He fell in love with Delhi girl Gauri Chibba and after years of courtship married her.

SRK was interested in theatre and joined the group headed by none other than Barry John that actually prepared him for something big in future. Passionate as he had always been about everything in life, he decided to get into acting seriously. He started his career appearing in various television series and developed an instant rapport with the audience.

SRK became a hot property among girls after his role of Abhimanyu in war Drama series ‘Fauji’ in 1988. He also worked in Aziz Mirza ’s ‘Circus’.

SRK’s TV stint caught the attention of Hema Malini who was looking for a new face for her directorial film debut in ‘Dil Aashna Hai’.

However, SRK made his debut in a 1992 film ‘Deewana’ along with the late Divya Bharti and Rishi Kapoor which was a big hit.

The same year SRK also starred ‘Chamatkar’ and the controversial art film ‘Maya Memsaab’.

SRK was also appreciated for his roles in ‘Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman’ with Juhi Chawla , who later became his life long friend. The film brought him great deal of attention from popular Bollywood camps like Chopras.

In 1993, SRK drove the entire nation crazy through his sizzling performance in negative roles in ‘Baazigar’ (as an anti-hero and murderer) and ‘Darr’ (as an obsessed lover) which became huge hits at the box office and shot him to stardom.

SRK missed out on the Filmfare best actor in a negative role for ‘Darr’, but made up by winning his first of six Filmfare best Actor award for his role in ‘Baazigar’, beating off strong competition from Sanjay Dutt for his role in Khalnayak .

This was followed by ‘Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa’, which SRK claims is his best performance in his career and for which he received the Filmfare Critics` Best Actor Award.

The year 1995 was the turning point of SRK’s career. Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (DDLJ) broke box office records and SRK, as the lead, was given a great deal of credit for its success.

This was followed by Rakesh Roshan `s superhit flick ‘Karan Arjun’. SRK won his second Filmfare best Actor award for DDLJ.

SRK became the most successful actor of this decade along with Aamir Khan and won the Filmfare Best Actor Award for Dil To Pagal Hai .

It was followed by a string of successes, most of them love stories, which included Pardes , Kuch Kuch Hota Hai , Mohabbatein , Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham , Devdaas , Kal Ho Na Ho , Veer Zaara and the more recent Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna .

SRK also won critical praise for his performances in ‘Anjaam’, ‘Dil Se’ and Swades , which were less successful at the box office.

Apart from becoming the most successful and popular star of the present generation in India and overseas, SRK’s proximity with all major camps of Bollywood firmly established his reputation as the King Khan.

SRK became the favourite of Bollywood`s biggest directors Yash Chopra , Aditya Chopra and Karan Johar .

Thanks to the brilliant box office records of his movies, SRK became the most saleable star and figured among the highest-earning actors along with none other than Bachchan and became the darling of the ad world too by endorsing almost all top brands.

Despite his success, SRK was also subjected to severe criticism from several quarters for sticking to ‘safe’ romantic roles.

However, with ‘Swades’ and Paheli , SRK took a different take on roles. Unfortunately ‘Swades’ and ‘Paheli’ didn’t do very well at the box office compared to his other films.

SRK’s production company Dreamz Unlimited, in partnership with Juhi and Aziz Mirza, has produced three of his films, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani , Asoka and Chalte Chalte .

With the exception of ‘Chalte Chalte’, which was a hit, the other two flopped at the box office.

In 2004 another of his production houses, Red Chilies Entertainment, produced film Main Hoon Na which was his second hit under his own production house.

SRK also co-produced Kaal in 2005 with Karan Johar and then produced ‘Paheli’, which was India’s selection for the Academy awards consideration.

In a career spanning over 14 years, SRK has weaved magic on screen, is known as the natural charmer and his popularity in the country and overseas has touched magical heights.

At 41, SRK is not showing any signs or intentions of slowing down and Bollywood’s latest Don on a roll.