He’s always been seen as a king of romance but Shah Rukh Khan is a damn fine comic actor too. Presenting films where he really laid bare his comic genius.
Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994)
This Kundan Shah directorial had SRK playing a young musician who wants to follow his dreams but his parents are dead against it, think he isn’t serious about his career and wants him to get a proper job. How he turns his life around and almost wins the heart of the girl he loves forms the crux of the film.
Yes Boss (1997)
Directed by Aziz Mirza, the film had Shah Rukh Khan playing a middle class employee willing to suck up to his boss in order to become rich. He meets the love of his life, Juhi Chawla, along the way and learns that some things value more than money. It was an easy going comedy with a powerful message and we wish SRK should invest in more such films.
Baadshah (1999)
SRK played a hopelessly out of his depth detective agency in Baadshah, directed by Abbas Mustan. He’s someone who solves cases by sheer luck rather than any ingenuity on his part. He somehow becomes involved in a plot to kill Goa CM and foils it in the nick of time. The film had wacky character names. Raakhee’s surname was Bachchan, an agent was called Aditya Chopra.
Main Hoon Na (2004)
The film marked Farah Khan’s directorial debut. SRK played an undercover army officer who goes back to college to be the clandestine bodyguard of a general’s daughter and ends up reuniting with his estranged family. His student-teacher romance with Sushmitha Sen became the talk of the town. The film’s many comic moments paid homage to old films.
Om Shanti Om (2007)
Directed by Farah Khan, the film was a paranormal comedy paying homage to Madhumati (1958). Shah Rukh played a double role, that of a junior artiste in the first half, who falls in love with a superstar, played by Deepika Padukone in her debut. He’s reincarnated as a top actor and exacts revenge on his and his lover’s killer. Unlike the sombre nature of Madhumati, Farah kept the proceedings light-hearted. The camaraderie between SRK and Shreyas Talpade was the film’s highlight.
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008)
Directed by Aditya Chopra, it was a sweet charming tale about a middle class guy who wants to up his cool quotient in order to impress his young wife. So he disguises himself and ends up taking Bollywood dance lessons with her. Yes, it was kind of improbable but that how all fairy tales are, isn’t it.
Chennai Express (2013)
This Rohit Shetty directorial was a spoof of the eternal lover myth surrounding Shah Rukh Khan. He played a slacker halwai in the film who gets to meet the girl of his dreams through chance and mayhem ensues. Deepika Padukone had a cracker role of a girl who specialises in running away from home. Their scenes together, especially where they talk to each other in code via antakshari were a riot.
Happy New Year (2014)
Directed by Farah Khan, this was both a musical and heist film in one. The comic touches came from SRK leading a team of misfits into pulling off an improbable robbery. SRK played a real cool thief who had to stay calm despite the mad cap antics of his crew.
