Khan also earned critical acclaim for playing a manipulative businessman inEk Hasina Thi (2004),[6] an apprentice in the English filmBeing Cyrus (2006) and theIago character inOmkara (2006). He had further commercial success in the action thrillersRace (2008) andRace 2 (2013), and the romantic comediesLove Aaj Kal (2009) andCocktail (2012). Between another string of under-performing ventures, Khan was appreciated for headliningNetflix's first original Indian seriesSacred Games (2018–2019)[7] and had his highest-grossing releases in the action filmsTanhaji (2020) andDevara: Part 1 (2024).
Khan has been noted forhis roles in a range of film genres—from crime dramas to action thrillers and comic romances. In addition to his film career, Khan is a frequent television presenter and stage performer, endorses various brands and products, and owns the production companies Illuminati Films and Black Knight Films.[8] Khan was married to his first wife,Amrita Singh, for thirteen years, after which he married actressKareena Kapoor. He has four children—two with Singh and two with Kapoor.
Speaking about his childhood, Khan said that he was exposed to a "life beyond movies",[19] and his mother described him as someone who was "not an easy child [...] He was impulsive [and] spontaneous."[20] Saif grew up aMuslim.[10][21] As a child, he recalls fond memories of watching his father playing cricket in the garden and has emphasized that his father's education and background had a lasting impression on how family life was conducted.[22] Khan studied atThe Lawrence School, Sanawar inHimachal Pradesh, and was later sent toLockers Park School inHertfordshire at the age of nine.[9] He next enrolled atWinchester College and explained that "I did not take advantage of my tenure [there]. My classmates went on toOxford andCambridge, but I was not academically inclined. When I applied myself, which was not often, I stood first. I should have studied harder."[9]
After graduating from the boarding school, Khan returned to India and worked for an advertising firm inDelhi for two months.[23] He later appeared in a television commercial forGwalior Suiting upon the insistence of a family friend, and was subsequently cast by director Anand Mahindroo. The project eventually got cancelled but Khan relocated toMumbai to pursue a career in film; he recalls, "Finally I had some direction and focus. I remember [...] feeling so excited that I could go to Mumbai, stay in my own place and enjoy the adventure of starting my own career."[23]
First marriage, early roles, and breakthrough (1991–2000)
In 1991, Khan was cast as the male lead inRahul Rawail's romantic dramaBekhudi (1992) alongside debutanteKajol. After completing the firstshooting schedule of the film, he was considered to be unprofessional by Rawail, and was replaced byKamal Sadanah.[24] While filmingBekhudi, Khan met actressAmrita Singh whom he married in October 1991.[25] Singh gave birth to their daughterSara in 1995, and to their sonIbrahim in 2001. The couple separated in 2004.[26]
Pictured with co-actorSalman at an event forWorld Aids Day in 2007, with whom he co-starred in the ensemble dramaHum Saath-Saath Hain (1999)—Khan's biggest commercial success of the decade.
After four consecutive years of poorly-received films, Khan's career prospects began to improve in 1999; he appeared in four films:Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan,Kachche Dhaage,Aarzoo, andHum Saath-Saath Hain.[33] The romantic comedyYeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan (alongsideTwinkle Khanna) and the romanceAarzoo (alongsideMadhuri Dixit and Akshay Kumar) earned little at the box office, but the action-thrillerKachche Dhaage (a story about two estranged brothers becoming the target of a terrorist conspiracy) was Khan's first commercial success sinceMain Khiladi Tu Anari and Imtihan .[34] Directed byMilan Luthria, the film was generally well received, but critics noted that Khan was overshadowed by co-actorAjay Devgn.[35] The film, however, earned Khan his second Best Supporting Actor nomination at Filmfare.[28] Khan described his final release of the year, theSooraj Barjatya-directed family dramaHum Saath-Saath Hain, as a "morale-booster".[36] The film featured anensemble cast (Mohnish Behl,Tabu,Salman Khan,Sonali Bendre andKarisma Kapoor) and emerged as the highest-grossing film of the year, earning over₹800 million (US$9.5 million) worldwide.[34][37] During the filming ofHum Saath-Saath Hain, Khan was charged withpoaching twoblackbucks in Kankani along with co-stars Salman, Tabu, Bendre andNeelam Kothari.[38] That year, he also appeared briefly in theDavid Dhawan-directed comedyBiwi No.1, a box office hit.[34]
The dramaKya Kehna by directorKundan Shah was Khan's only release of 2000, in which he played thecasanova Rahul Modi. Co-starring alongsidePreity Zinta andChandrachur Singh, Khan compared the portrayal of his character with his own evolving maturity as a father.[39] The film addressed themes ofsingle parenthood andteenage pregnancy, and emerged as asleeper hit.[40]The Indian Express believed Khan "looks debauched enough to be the rogue he plays. He is the only dark aspect in a film that is sunny and bright even at its most tragic."[41]
Bollywood Hungama described his next film, theNikhil Advani-directed romantic comedy-dramaKal Ho Naa Ho (2003), as a "landmark" in his career.[53] Set inNew York City, it was written byKaran Johar and co-starredJaya Bachchan,Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta. With a worldwide revenue of over₹860 million (US$10 million), the film was received favourably by critics and became India's biggest hit of the year.[54] It also did well internationally and became the highest-grossing film of the year overseas.[54] Khan was cast in the role of Rohit Patel—a carefree young man who falls in love with Zinta's character—after Advani had seen his performance inDil Chahta Hai.[55] Writing forOutlook,Komal Nahta described Khan as a "natural" and "extremely endearing", andRam Kamal Mukherjee fromStardust opined that he was successful in displaying "a gamut of emotions".[56][57] Khan garnered several awards for his performance, including his first Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor,[28] and expressed gratitude to Shah Rukh for teaching "me so much—mainly the responsibility of the main lead".[58] He explained that the film's success led to Yash Raj Films casting him in the 2004 romantic comedyHum Tum. At the end of the year, he appeared briefly as Cpt.Anuj Nayyar inJ. P. Dutta's ensemble box office flopLOC Kargil.[52]
In an attempt to avoidtypecasting and broaden his range as an actor, Khan starred as Karan Singh Rathod in the 2004 thrillerEk Hasina Thi, a character he described as "aCharles Sobhraj-meets-James Bond kind of a guy".[45] The film (which marked the debut ofSriram Raghavan) tells the story of a young woman (played byUrmila Matondkar) who meets Khan's character and is subsequently arrested for having links with the underworld. When Khan was initially offered the project, he was unable to commit due to his busy schedule.[45] However, he agreed when Raghavan approached him for the second time, and in preparation for the role, exercised extensively for six months to achieve the physical attributes of his character.[45] Upon release, the film was positively received by critics, with Khan's performance earning praise. Film criticAnupama Chopra wrote that Khan gave "an accomplished performance", whileThe Deccan Herald opined that he was successful in "break[ing] out of the cool dude stereotype" and "hold[ing] his own in a movie that is completely Matondkar's."[59][60] For his performance, Khan received nominations at theScreen, Zee Cine andIIFA ceremonies.[28]
For his next release, Khan starred oppositeRani Mukerji inKunal Kohli'sHum Tum, a romantic comedy about two headstrong individuals meeting at different stages of their lives. He was cast in the role of Karan Kapoor (a young cartoonist and womanizer) after Aamir Khan was unable to do the film; Kohli said, "I realised that the role needed a younger man [...] someone who could present a more youthful picture. Saif has this unique quality, he can play a 21-year old as well as a 29-year old and was ideal for [the film]."[61] With worldwide revenue of₹426 million (US$5.0 million), the film proved one of the biggest commercial successes of the year[62] and Khan's first success in which he played the sole male lead.[61]Rediff.com wrote of his performance: "Saif reprises his urbane self fromDil Chahta Hai andKal Ho Naa Ho, peppering it with occasional fits of introspection and angst, and marking himself as an actor whose time has come."[63] He won the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role, in addition to his first nomination for theFilmfare Award for Best Actor, and was conferred theNational Film Award for Best Actor at the52nd National Film Awards amid much controversy.[28][64] It marked the beginning of his work with Yash Raj Films, one of the largest production houses in Bollywood.[65] In 2004, Khan began dating model Rosa Catalano; they separated three years later.[66]
Established actor and film production (2005–2010)
In 2005, Rediff.com published that Khan had established himself as a leading actor in Hindi cinema with starring roles in the romantic dramaParineeta and the comedy-dramaSalaam Namaste.[67] An adaptation ofSarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's1914 Bengali novella by the same name,Parineeta was directed byPradeep Sarkar, and narrated the love story of an idealist (Lalita, played byVidya Balan) and a musician (Shekhar, played by Khan), the son of a capitalist businessman.[68] Although the film's producer,Vidhu Vinod Chopra, considered Khan too inexperienced for the part, he was persuaded by Sarkar who felt that Khan was perfect for the role.[69] The film garnered critical acclaim upon release and Khan's portrayal earned him his second nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.[28]Derek Elley fromVariety wrote, "Khan, who has gradually been developing away from light comedy, again shows smarts as a substantial actor."[68]Siddharth Anand'sSalaam Namaste became the first Indian feature to be filmed entirely in Australia[70] and went on to become the year's highest-grossing Bollywood production outside of India with worldwide ticket sales of₹572 million (US$6.8 million).[71] The film tells the story of a contemporarycohabiting Indian couple (Khan and Preity Zinta), and their subsequent struggle with an unexpected pregnancy. Khan played the role of Nikhil Arora, a single modern young man who leaves India to make his own life inMelbourne. The critic Taran Adarsh praised Khan for delivering his third successive performance[72] andKhalid Mohamed noted that he "rescues several untidily written scenes with his neat wit and that flustered [...] facial expression."[73]
He next played the protagonist in the English languageart film,Being Cyrus (2006), co-starring alongsideNaseeruddin Shah andDimple Kapadia. Directed by debutantHomi Adajania, the psychological drama revolves around a dysfunctionalParsi family with whom Khan's character moves. The film received predominantly positive reviews, and Khan was particularly praised.[74][75] Later in the year, he portrayed the character ofIago inOmkara, the Indian adaptation ofWilliam Shakespeare'sOthello. Directed byVishal Bhardwaj, the film is a tragedy of sexual jealousy set against the backdrop of the political system inUttar Pradesh.[76] The film premiered at the2006 Cannes Film Festival and was selected for screening at theCairo International Film Festival.[76][77]Omkara was received positively by critics, and Khan went on to receive widespread critical acclaim and accolades, earning the awards for Best Performance in a Negative Role at the Filmfare, Screen, Zee Cine and IIFA ceremonies; his performance was later included in the 2010 issue of the "Top 80 Iconic Performances" byFilmfare.[28][78]Variety described it as a "powerhouse performance" and wrote that "[i]t is Khan's film through and through, in a performance of rugged, contained malevolence which trades on his previous screen persona as a likable best friend as well as his stint as the manipulative outsider inBeing Cyrus. It is smart casting, superbly realized."[79]
By 2007, Khan was keen on branching out intofilm production to "explore various genres of commercial and intellectually stimulating cinema".[80] The critical success ofBeing Cyrus led him to createIlluminati Films and partner up with producerDinesh Vijan, someone whom he shared a "like-minded perspective and ideology [...] with regard to cinema".[80] Khan next reunited with producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra in the 2007epic dramaEklavya: The Royal Guard alongsideAmitabh Bachchan,Boman Irani, Sharmila Tagore, and Vidya Balan. Set in the state ofRajasthan during the early years of Indian independence, the movie revolves around a jealous and ungrateful ruler and his ailing wife. Although the film did not succeed at the box office,[81] it was chosen asIndia's official entry to the Oscars.[82]BBC Online described the film as a "cinematic experience" and praised Khan's growth as an actor, particular noting his scene with Bachchan's character.[83] Following an appearance in the poorly-received action-comedyNehlle Pe Dehlla (a production that had been delayed since 2001),[84][85] Khan featured opposite Rani Mukerji in the 2007 family dramaTa Ra Rum Pum. Directed by Siddharth Anand, it received mixed reviews from critics, but earned over₹690 million (US$8.2 million) in India and abroad.[86] Writing forHindustan Times, Khalid Mohamed praised Khan for displaying a new maturity,[87] butRajeev Masand thought that neither he nor Mukerji "are able to make much of an impression because their characters are so unidimensional and boring."[88]
Khan achieved further success in 2008, starring in theAbbas–Mustan thrillerRace with an ensemble cast includingAnil Kapoor, Akshaye Khanna,Bipasha Basu,Katrina Kaif andSameera Reddy. The feature was loosely adapted from the 1998American filmGoodbye Lover,[89] and became one of the year's biggest box office hits, earning₹1.03 billion (US$12 million) worldwide.[90]CNN-IBN's Rajeev Masand found Khan to be a standout among the ensemble, adding that he has "the least dialogue, but the one who makes the best impression".[91] This was followed by three projects produced by Yash Raj Films: the action-thrillerTashan, the fantasy comedy-dramaThoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, and the animated filmRoadside Romeo, all of which were unsuccessful.[92]
In 2009, Khan appeared in the romantic dramaSanam Teri Kasam, a production that had been delayed since 2000. The film garnered negative reviews and poor box office returns.[94] Khan's role was small, and not well received.[95] He next starred in his company's first project:Love Aaj Kal (2009), a romantic comedy-drama from the writer-directorImtiaz Ali. Featured oppositeDeepika Padukone, the film documented the changing value of relationships among the youth, and Khan played dual roles—the younger version ofRishi Kapoor's character (Veer Singh) and Jai Vardhan Singh, an ambitious architect.Love Aaj Kal received highly positive reviews from critics and became one of the highest-grossing films of the year, earning over₹1 billion (US$12 million) worldwide.[90] Gaurav Malani ofThe Economic Times described his performance as "refreshing natural" and "outstanding".[96] At the55th Filmfare Awards,Love Aaj Kal was nominated forBest Film and Khan received his fourth nomination for Best Actor.[28]
He then starred in the thrillerKurbaan alongsideKareena Kapoor,Vivek Oberoi andDia Mirza. Produced by Dharma Productions, the film marked the directorial debut of Rensil D'Silva and featured Khan in the role of a terrorist. Upon release,Kurbaan was received favourably by critics and Khan's performance was critically acclaimed. A review inThe Telegraph praised his "easy transition from a charming lover to a heartless man on a deadly mission."[97]
Career fluctuations and second marriage (2011–2015)
In 2011, he appeared inPrakash Jha's multi-starrer dramaAarakshan. Set in the city ofBhopal, Madhya Pradesh, the film deals with the policy ofcaste-based reservations in government jobs and educational institutions.[98] Khan portrayed Deepak Kumar, a rebellious student who joins the mafia. To prepare for the role, Khan was required to take acting workshops along with the rest of the cast.[99] Prior to its release, the film was banned from release in select cities across India due to its controversial subject.[98] While the film received a mixed critical reaction, his performance was generally well received.[100] The following year, Khan produced both of his own films. For his first release, he collaborated once again with director Sriram Raghavan, as the protagonist in the action thrillerAgent Vinod. Khan described it as his "most ambitious project",[101] but the film opened to mixed reviews and eventually under-performed at the box office grossing₹400 million (US$4.7 million) in India on a budget of₹620 million (US$7.3 million).[102]
In his next release, Homi Adajania's romantic comedy-dramaCocktail, he featured as software engineer Gautam Kapoor. Set in London, the film follows Kapoor's relationship with two temperamentally different women: an impulsive party girl (Veronica, played by Padukone) and a submissivegirl next door (Meera, played byDiana Penty). Khan described the project as "a love story with a modern sensibility and treatment", and agreed to produce and feature in the film after his role was declined byImran Khan.[103] Critics were divided in their opinion of the film,[104] but it emerged a financial success grossing over₹1.2 billion (US$14 million) worldwide.[90] Gaurav Malani ofThe Times of India described Khan's performance as "effortless" and noted that he was in his "comfort zone".[105]
The following year, Khan collaborated with Padukone for the fourth time (alongside Anil Kapoor,John Abraham,Jacqueline Fernandez andAmeesha Patel) in Abbas–Mustan'sRace 2 (2013), an ensemble action thriller that served as a sequel toRace (2008). The film received predominantly negative reviews from critics,[107] but with a total collection of₹1.62 billion (US$19 million), it proved to be a commercial success.[90] He was next cast as Boris, a "Russian mafia don",[108] inRaj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K.'sGo Goa Gone (described as "India's firstzom-com")[109] alongsideKunal Khemu andVir Das. Khan, whobleached his hair for the film, was particularly drawn to the project for its novel concept and its "action, comedy and violence".[110][111] The critic Rajeev Masand described the film as "a winning cocktail of laugh-out-loud dialogue and well-timed performances by the three leads", and in particular noted Khan's scene with Khemu's character.[109] His final release of the year wasBullett Raja, a crime drama directed byTigmanshu Dhulia, and co-starringJimmy Shergill andSonakshi Sinha. Khan explained that he found it challenging to play the role of Raja Mishra (a common man who turns into agangster) and "totally relied" on Dhulia's guidance.[112]Bullett Raja earned little at the box office and received predominantly negative reviews. Writing forFirstpost, Mihir Fadnavis found Khan to be "miscast" and described his performance as "farcial".[113]
In an interview withThe Times of India, Khan explained that he regretted starring inSajid Khan's 2014 comedyHumshakals.[114] Co-starring with an ensemble cast (Ritesh Deshmukh,Ram Kapoor, Bipasha Basu,Tamannaah andEsha Gupta), Khan portrayed three different characters in an attempt to "expand my market" and step out of his comfort zone.[114]The Hindustan Times described it as a "dim-witted comedy" and criticised Khan for being "the worst thing about [the film]."[115] He next produced and featured inHappy Ending (2014), a romantic comedy directed by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K.NDTV's Saibal Chatterjee found Khan's character (a struggling writer) to be "a breezy rejig of hisHum Tum andSalaam Namaste persona of a decade ago", and noted that "the many collegiate hook-ups and break-ups he pulls off inHappy Ending do not look completely at odds with the film's purpose."[116]Humshakals proved to be a commercial disaster andHappy Ending underperformed at the box office.[117]
Following a brief appearance in the comedyDolly Ki Doli (2015), he appeared alongside Kaif inKabir Khan'scounter-terrorism dramaPhantom (2015). Based on the bookMumbai Avengers byHussain Zaidi, the film is a retelling of the aftermath of the26/11 Mumbai attacks.[118] Khan was cast as Cpt. Daniyal Khan, a former soldier hired by theRAW agency.Phantom generated controversy when theCentral Board of Film Censors deemed that the film represented Pakistan in a negative light and banned the film from being released there.[118] A review inThe Hollywood Reporter noted that Khan was "well cast" and "believable" in his role,[119] and Rachit Gupta ofFilmfare described his performance as "a heady mix of bravado and restrained intensity [which] works in parts only."[120] Although Khan was pleased with the film's performance,Phantom was generally perceived to be a box-office failure grossing₹844 million (US$10 million) worldwide on a budget of₹720 million (US$8.5 million).[121][122]
Commercial setbacks and professional expansion (2016–2022)
During his year-long absence from the screen, Khan actively looked to play different parts, saying: "These are smarter movies, the interaction with them is deeply rewarding... I think I am finally beginning to understand my sense of style as an actor. I am developing my craft, understanding what acting and communication is."[123] He found such a role in his second collaboration with director Vishal Bhardwaj,Rangoon (2017), an epic romance set duringWorld War II. Cast alongsideShahid Kapoor andKangana Ranaut, Khan drew inspiration from the mannerisms of his grandfather and the characterDarth Vader to portray filmmaker Rustom "Rusi" Billimoria.[124] Rajeev Masand termed the film "overlong, indulgent to the point of exhaustion", but praised Khan for "imbu[ing] Russi with the swagger and the arrogance of an aristocrat from the forties".[125]
He next starred as the protagonist (Roshan Kalra) in 2017 comedy-dramaChef (an official adaptation of the 2014film of the same name) from the directorRaja Krishna Menon.[123] Khan was pleased to work with Menon, and identified with the film due to its "modern, slightly unorthodox take on relationships".[123] He drew upon several real-life experiences for his character, and trained at theJW Marriott Hotels in Mumbai in preparation.[123] The film received generally positive reviews, with several commentators declaring that it was Khan's best performance to that point.[126] Anupama Chopra wrote: "Khan get[s] his groove back... [He] doesn't play Roshan as a hero having a bad day. He gives us a flawed, fumbling man who is trying to repair the broken chords of his life."[127] As with his last few releases,Rangoon andChef earned little at the box office, leading trade analysts to question his commercial appeal.[128]
Following an appearance in the poorly-received 2018 black comedyKaalakaandi directed by Akshat Verma, Khan appeared asInspector Sartaj Singh in India's firstNetflix original series, the crime thrillerSacred Games, based onVikram Chandra'snovel of the same name.[129][130] Cast alongsideNawazuddin Siddiqui andRadhika Apte, Khan was drawn by the opportunity to be part of a "creative zone, devoid of certain pressures and constraints that one would associate with the kind of films we normally do."[131] The show received high critical acclaim;[132][133] Ankur Pathak ofHuffPost called it "a sure-shot winner" and took note of Khan's "stellar performance, one that [he] chews on slowly as he disappears into the broken persona of a tormented cop."[134] In his next release, he starred as the businessman Skakun Kothari in Gauravv Chawla'sBaazaar, a drama set against the backdrop ofMumbai's stock exchange market. Khan worked with Chawla to provide off-screen inputs, and was attracted to the idea of playing the antagonist, describing it as "a devious character" from theIndian epic poetryMahabharata.[135] The critic Udita Jhunjhunwala ofMint commended Khan for "blending the right amount of wickedness with willfulness", butNamrata Joshi found him to be "stiff [and] stern ... to communicate a rather facetious sense of menace."[136][137]Baazaar was a box-office failure grossing₹399 million (US$4.7 million) worldwide on a budget of₹340 million (US$4.0 million).[138]
Pictured with co-actorAjay Devgn at an event forTanhaji in 2020. It marked their second collaboration and the film emerged as Khan's highest-grossing release.[139]
Khan's desire to choose films based upon artistic merit rather than commercial appeal led him to feature as the protagonist in the 2019 action-dramaLaal Kaptaan.[140] Directed byNavdeep Singh, it is set in the 18th century and tells the story of asadhu (Khan) who goes on a killing spree with the intention of exacting revenge upon asubedar. Filming in the barren landscape of rural Rajasthan proved physically daunting for Khan, and in preparation for the role he learned sword-fighting and horse-riding, and worked with a dialect coach to speak in aRajasthani accent. He described it as "the hardest thing I have done so far", and considered the opportunity a critical learning experience that helped him personally and professionally;[140][141] however, it failed at the box office.[142]The Huffington Post praised Khan's decision to choose "morally ambiguous roles", but noted that he was "too wooden, bereft of any allure or mystery."[143]
Khan began the new decade with a starring role in 2020'sTanhaji, ahistorical drama directed byOm Raut. Set in the 17th century, it revolves around the attempt by aMaratha warrior (played by Devgn) torecapture the Kondhana fortress from aRajput fort keeper (played by Khan). He was attracted to the idea of starring in a "larger-than-life" film and felt challenged by Raut's insistence onoverplaying his character; he explained that the process left him "very enriched" and he was pleased with the collaboration.[144]Tanhaji was acclaimed by critics and emerged as a major commercial success, grossing over₹3.67 billion (US$43 million) worldwide.[145][146] Reviewing the film forFilm Companion, Anupama Chopra found Khan's performance to be the film's prime asset, and credited him for playing "the exaggerated evil with a cheeky panache."[147]The Hindustan Times opined that Khan had delivered his best performance to date, noting his "moments of mirth with his sinister laugh amid killing people."[148]Tanhaji earned Khan his second Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. His next release of the year wasJawaani Jaaneman, a comedy-drama about the life of a bachelor (played by Khan) who discovers that he has a daughter (played byAlaya Furniturewala). The feature was produced under his new company, Black Knight Films, and received generally positive reviews.[149] Kunal Guha ofMumbai Mirror found that the film allowed Khan to "slip into a familiar-yet-age appropriate avatar in a refreshing coming-of-age story."[150]
In 2021, Khan first appeared as a politician inAmazon Prime Video's drama seriesTandav created and directed byAli Abbas Zafar.[151] The show opened amid protests and police complaints against its makers for allegedly insultingHindu deities and hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus,[152][153] following which Zafar cut several scenes and issued an apology.[154] Critical reception was mixed.[155][156] Khan then starred in the crime comedyBunty Aur Babli 2 opposite Mukerji, and the horror comedyBhoot Police alongsideArjun Kapoor.[157][158] In 2022, he collaborated with Hrithik Roshan on the action filmVikram Vedha, a remake of the2017 Tamil film. Saibal Chatterjee wrote that he "inhabits the character of the tough cop with conviction and exudes the external toughness that defines the man and his mission".[159]
Telugu cinema and stabbing incident (2023–present)
Khan began 2023 by playing the villainousLankesh in the mythological filmAdipurush, inspired by the Hindu epicRamayana, starringPrabhas as the heroicRaghava. It was filmed simultaneously in Hindi andTelugu. Budgeted at₹500−700 crore (US$−83 million), it is one of themost expensive Indian films.[citation needed] It received negative reactions from both critics and audiences, and emerged as a box office bomb.[160] In the following year, Khan had his second Telugu film release in the action filmDevara: Part 1, starringN. T. Rama Rao Jr.. Avinash Ramachandran ofThe Indian Express bemoaned that his performance suffered due to poor writing.[161] With a gross of over₹5 billion (US$59 million), it emerged as the highest-grossing film of his career.[162]
On 16 January 2025, Khan was stabbed multiple times during an attempted robbery inside his Mumbai residence. He was admitted toLilavati Hospital for surgery.[163] He sustained major injuries on his neck, back and waist. Aneurosurgery was conducted on hisspinal cord, where a piece of the knife was lodged which led to leakingspinal fluid.[164][165] Hospital representatives reported that Khan was stable after surgery.[166] He was discharged after five days.[167] Using CCTV footage,Mumbai Police arrested Mohammad Shariful Islam Shahzad, a 30-year-old Bangladeshi national, as the culprit.[168] In March 2025, Mohammad Shariful Islam appealed for bail in the case, claiming that he was falsely implicated by the police.[169]
Alongside his acting career, Khan has participated in several concert tours and televised award ceremonies. He performed in his first concert tour,Temptations 2004, with actors Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Preity Zinta,Arjun Rampal andPriyanka Chopra. Showcased in over 22 countries across the world, it became Bollywood's most prominent international concert to that point.[174] In 2006, he was part of theHeat 2006 world tour along with Akshay Kumar, Preity Zinta,Sushmita Sen andCelina Jaitley.[175] He later performed along with several other Bollywood personalities at the closing ceremony of the2006 Commonwealth Games.[176]
Music
In December 2005, Khan performed alongside the bandParikrama at the Mittal Gardens in New Delhi, and later reunited with them andStrings of Pakistan forThe Royal Stag Mega Music Concert (a four-city concert tour) two years later, Khan playing theguitar during these performances.[177]
Philanthropy
Since October 2011, Khan has taken over the responsibility of managing his father's eye hospital, and has also made public appearances to support various other charitable causes.[11] In February 2005, Khan and several other Bollywood actors participated in the 2005 HELP! Telethon Concert to raise money for the victims of the2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.[178] He took part in a charity cricket match organised by IIFA atHeadingley Cricket Ground inWest Yorkshire, England in 2007, and later hosted an event organised by the award ceremony to help raise funds for various charities in 2011.[179][180] In November 2008, Khan performed in a concert to raise money for the victims of the2008 Bihar flood and in September 2013, he attended a charity dinner organised by the Venu Eye Institute, donating two of his personal belongings to help raise funds forcataract operations.[181][182] Later that year, he spent time with underprivileged kids during the filming ofBullett Raja.[183] In October 2014, Khan was appointed as an ambassador forOlympic Gold Quest and donated₹2 million (US$24,000) to help raise funds for the training of athletes.[184]
In an interview with Rajeev Masand, Khan described himself as "a very private person".[185] The journalistRoshmila Bhattacharya added, "Unlike most actors, his interests are not limited to box office collections and workout routines. [He] can converse on anything, from philosophy to politics, from sports to books and music."[9]Filmfare wrote that earlier in his career, Khan gained a reputation for being arrogant, but later matured into "one of showbiz's biggest and most respected stars."[186] During his career, he has played roles in both high-profile mainstream productions and lesser-publicised films by independent filmmakers, and he has appeared in a range of film genres, although he has found a niche playing roles in romantic comedies.[23][187]The Tribune wrote that his roles inDil Chahta Hai (2001),Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003),Hum Tum (2004),Salaam Namaste (2005),Love Aaj Kal (2009) andCocktail (2012) were "essentially endearing pretty boys", and the success of these films established him as the "poster boy for romantic comedies".[188] Beth Watkins explains the typical role Khan played in romantic comedies and its appeal:
"Perhaps related is his finesse for playing petulant, arrogant, almost insufferable young men in need of reform, which, this being Bollywood, they can easily achieve through the love of a good woman. Does his real-life golden status—with literature, cinema, cricket and royalty in his lineage—make him exceptionally effective at coming across as spoiled?"[189]
One of the highest-paid actors in Bollywood,[190][191] Khan is considered among the most popular and high-profile celebrities in India.[192] He is known to commit heavily to each role and believes in "staying on a sharp learning curve".[187] This commitment, combined with his busy schedule and heavy smoking, resulted in a health scare in 2007.[193] Analysing his career, the journalist Shomini Sen noted that "[t]he actor was part of some major films in the early 1990s [...] yet critics wrote him of[f] due to lack of a screen presence and poor dialogue delivery."[194] Critics noted thatDil Chahta Hai marked a major turning point for Khan, and credited him for pioneering a movement in actors being part of "a new genre of films which was more urban";[194] film historianNasreen Munni Kabir stated that the film helped him find "his own style, combining great comic timing and a natural personality."[23] Sen further explained that "his anglicized upbringing, which initially was a hindrance to his career, became his strongest point."[194] Following his portrayal of a variety of character types inEk Hasina Thi (2004),Parineeta (2005),Being Cyrus andOmkara (both 2006), Khan was noted for his versatility;[23][192]India Today attributed his roles in these films to the establishment of a new image for leading actors in Bollywood, andThe Tribune published that Khan had successfully "matured, both as an actor of substance and as a bankable star".[23][24]
Starting in 2007, Khan's relationship with Kareena Kapoor became one of the country's most-reported celebrity stories, and they were listed amongst the top celebrity couple endorsers for brands and products worldwide.[195][196] In a blog published byThe Wall Street Journal, Rupa Subramanya described their marriage as India's "wedding and social event of the year".[197] Kapoor gave birth to their son Taimur in December 2016.[198] From 2012 to 2019, Khan was featured onForbes India's "Celebrity 100", a list based on the income and popularity of India's celebrities.[199][200][201][202] He peaked at the fifteenth position in 2012 and 2014 with an estimated annual earning of₹642 million (US$7.6 million) and₹629 million (US$7.4 million) respectively.[203][204] In 2003, Khan placed fourth on Rediff's list of "Top Bollywood Male Stars".[205] He was later ranked second in 2005, sixth in 2006, and seventh in 2007.[67][206][207] In March 2011, Khan placed fifth on Rediff's list of "Top 10 Actors of 2000–2010".[208] He was ranked among the top 30 onThe Times of India's listing of the "Most Desirable Men" from 2010 to 2015,[209] and has additionally featured in the UK magazineEastern Eye's "World's Sexiest Asian Men" list in 2008, 2011 and 2012.[210][211][212] In 2010 and from 2012 to 2014, Khan was featured as one of the best-dressed male celebrities in the Indian edition ofGQ magazine.[213]
^Elley, Derek (1 August 2006)."Omkara:Film Review".Variety.Archived from the original on 31 July 2013. Retrieved17 October 2009.
^abVenkatesh, Jyothi (9 February 2007)."Saif turns producer".Daily News and Analysis.Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved20 July 2016.
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