For three decades, SRK has done more than dominate the box office. He has dominated red carpets, movie frames and front rows with a kind of confidence that has made him a living language of refinement. You have defined what it means to look like a star. Her fashion sensibility, on or off screen, has been greatly appreciated by fans. Think Shah Rukh Khan in the 2000s, making public appearances in a white V-neck T-shirt and dark blue denim. Those were the days! It has transcended trends and generations, establishing itself as a permanent fixture in India’s style lexicon.
He defined the hero’s wardrobe.
When Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge released in 1995, India was introduced to not only Raj, the romantic hero audiences were looking for, but also a new idea of what a leading man could look like. Yes, leather jacket draped effortlessly over denim, messy hair, enchanting eyes, the kind we can’t help but fall hopelessly in love with. It was rebellion softened by romance and it was safe to assume that fashion had found its new muse.
In Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Shah Rukh Khan played the quintessential 90s college kid. He was casual, confident and playful. His character, Rahul Khanna, became a fashion icon for the youth of that time. The Bollywood IT guy defined his style with a ‘COOL’ necklace, polo shirts, oversized sweatshirts, denim jackets, baggy jeans and sports caps.
From there, SRK’s style journey became a popular topic of conversation. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham gave us luxury on the go. The long trench coats, black turtlenecks and tailored trousers spoke of sophistication, a look that Manish Malhotra and his team, Shabina Khan and Rocky S, styled to perfection. Later, Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla transformed Shah Rukh Khan into a doomed romantic hero for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas. The film’s lavish aesthetic demanded grandeur with rich silk kurtas, sherwanis and intricately embroidered dhotis in muted creams, maroons and golds.
You can’t forget the elegant gangster suits and impeccable shirts at Don. Costume designer Aki Narula experimented with modern masculinity and created a bold and brooding SRK.
By the time of Raees, Shah Rukh Khan had taken on more mature and intense roles. His character, Raees Alam, was a smuggler with a moral code. He had a brave, local and authoritarian style. Pathani suits and shirts in deep, earthy tones with rolled-up sleeves and open collars became the character’s preferred choice. Fans couldn’t keep calm seeing SRK with stubble, tousled hair and kohl-lined eyes.
Then came Pathaan, the reinvention that no one saw coming. With shoulder-length hair, combat gear and boundless energy, Shah Rukh proved that, 30 years after becoming a superstar, he can still set the fashion agenda and the hearts of Generation Z on fire. His Greg Lauren cargo pants with nothing on top were not just a wardrobe choice, but a crash course in fashion. It showed how Shah Rukh always understood the task. Now he is gearing up for Siddharth Anand’s King with an intense graying look and a defiant personality.
But of all the films, SRK’s physical transformation for Om Shanti Om is not to be missed. For the iconic Dard-E-Disco track, he teamed up with celebrity trainer Prashant Sawant to develop his abs. That was the fashion that did not need fabrics to attract attention.
Red carpets and catwalks
At the 2022 Red Sea International Film Festival, he stunned in a custom Sabyasachi Mukherjee tuxedo, cut to the body and paired with a silk shirt and minimal accessories. It was pure Shah Rukh.
At Mannat’s Diwali celebrations, he often chooses the creations of Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla or Manish Malhotra, including chikankari kurtas, ivory bandhgalas or muted gold sherwanis that define luxurious traditional menswear.
Shah Rukh recently surprised his fans around the world with his appearance at the MET Gala 2025. To keep up with the theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, the star had donned a sleek black Sabyasachi suit with lots of gold necklaces. The two standout necklaces included one with her initials ‘SRK’ and another with the letter ‘K’. She had paired the chic ensemble with stylish sunglasses, neatly styled hair and a statement brooch. The best part? King Khan carried a cane with gold details to match the iconic cut.
All said and done, unlike stars who depend on stylists to create a statement, Shah Rukh’s fashion philosophy has always been instinctive. No pretensions, no exaggerations and pure self-confidence. Even his simplest look, a black T-shirt, jeans and his trademark aviator glasses, is not to be taken lightly. There is something in the way he walks, talks and smiles. Oh, and the signature pose with arms stretched wide! It’s that intangible quality that designers can’t sew and stylists can’t choreograph.
Also Read: The King Returns: Siddharth Anand Teases New Shah Rukh Khan Experience in King’s First Look
