In the land of croissants and couture, Bollywood’s Badshah Shah Rukh Khan commands a devoted legion of fans. His romantic hero persona has woven itself into French pop culture, from multiplexes to museums.
It all began with shoots in France for films like ‘Pathaan’, with more to come for ‘King’. But SRK’s bond with the country goes beyond celluloid. In 2014, he received France’s highest civilian honor, the Knight of the Legion of Honor, presented by Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius for promoting cultural exchange through film. The actor, ever gracious, marked the occasion on his late mother’s birthday.
The Grévin Museum elevated him to elite status with a bespoke gold coin, etched with his ‘DDLJ’ Raj silhouette. This wasn’t just any tribute; among 14 international icons selected by one of the world’s oldest wax museums, only SRK got the golden nod. Wax figures of contemporaries like Aishwarya Rai and Ranveer Singh exist, but the coin? Exclusively his.
Box office triumphs tell the tale: ‘Pathaan’, ‘Jawan’, and ‘Dunki’ raked in impressive hauls in France, building on earlier successes. Hindi cinema’s history with France – think shoots in scenic spots – has always been strong, but SRK amplifies it.
With President Macron’s India tour spotlighting Bollywood, SRK’s French legacy shines brighter. He’s not just a star; he’s a bridge between two vibrant cultures, proving why the world calls him King.