by AZAD ESSA
As India’s most beloved actor and global icon amasses unprecedented wealth, his silence amid inequality, persecution and genocide exposes the moral cost of fame and belonging
Shah Rukh Khan’s birthday will hit differently this year.
When the megastar turns 60 on Sunday, he will do so not only as the
undisputed king of Bollywood, but as the richest Indian actor of all
time: a billionaire.
According to the Harun India Rich List, Khan had reached billionaire status in October, becoming the first Bollywood star to join an elite club that comprises 0.00004 percent of the world’s population.
As one of 358 billionaires in India, or just 0.00002 percent of its population, that is enough to be treated like a god.
And most tellingly, much of the Indian media celebrated the feat, highlighting his history of tireless efforts, unique talent, charisma and business acumen in curating a diverse portfolio that extends from real estate to sports franchises and brand endorsements, making him the man he is today.
“This achievement… crowns years of relentless hard work… his brand into a formidable wealth engine,” India Today wrote.
“Shah Rukh Khan entering the billionaires club makes total sense, to both the head and the heart,” the Hindustan Times argued.
Likewise, The Economic Times observed: “His journey proves that talent, hard work and smart investments can create a lasting legacy both on-screen and off.”
Few paused to consider what it means for him to become a billionaire in 2025 – in an India where inequality, scholars warned last year, was worse than it was under British colonial rule; where opportunities for the middle class had frayed and caused panic; and where those who share his identity as a Muslim face the most perilous conditions since the state’s founding in 1947.
And as a corollary to that question: what role has his silence in the face of such social and political upheaval, be it in India, Gaza or Kashmir, played in elevating his wealth to new heights?
Indeed, what does it say about Khan that he became a billionaire in such times?
The story of his wealth
To understand Khan’s rise, one has to consider the story of India itself since the end of the Cold War.
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