Happy 61st Birthday, Shah Rukh Khan: The King Still Rules

On December 20, 2018, Aanand L Rai's drama Zero, featuring Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma, was deemed a failure. In March 2020, the Coronavirus pandemic took hold, causing the world to isolate itself. On October 2, 2021, SRK's eldest son, Aryan, was apprehended by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) during a raid on a ship in Mumbai.

Aryan was subsequently held in custody for 25 days before being cleared by the NCB in May 2022, following a May 2022 ruling by the Bombay High Court. This six-month period saw relentless media scrutiny on the Aryan case, with some TV anchors targeting the superstar son. As a result, the Indian media was eventually labeled as untrustworthy by SRK.

The innocent were also held accountable, despite the consensus that Aryan was at the wrong place at the wrong time, with 80% of journalists sharing pro-Aryan posts on social media. Despite these challenges, SRK's spirit remained unbroken. In 2023, the year marked SRK's comeback, with Pathaan and Jawan among the highest-grossing films.

The Indian media, once an integral part of SRK's life, was left out of his success. However, Khan continued to live his life, often spotted at private airports and attending events. At a recent YRF Studios event to celebrate Jawan, SRK maintained his usual distance from the media, while his son, Aryan, directed his first OTT series, The Ba***ds of Bollywood.

The series became a global hit, and Aryan won awards for best debut. Despite the media's absence at Aryan's celebration, SRK's influence remained strong. On August 20, 2025, SRK once again chose YRF Studios for the premiere of his son's directorial debut. Aryan's performance was met with acclaim, and he received praise for his directorial debut.

However, the media was once again barred from attending the celebration party. The message was clear: if you are important enough, the media will gather the news. With his 61st birthday coming up, SRK may make a rare appearance at Mannat, his residence, to wave to fans. His upcoming film, King, is set to release on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025.