Superstar Shah Rukh Khan reveal reality of growing up lower middle class: 'There was not enough daal at home so more water was added...'

Today, he is the richest Indian actor in the world, with a net worth of over Rs 10,000 crores. However, Shah Rukh Khan’s journey to superstardom and becoming a national icon was no bed of roses. In an interview with Anupam Kher, the superstar once hinted at facing financial difficulties as a child. He revealed when daal was prepared at his home, his mother would add extra water into it so there would be enough food for four people. There was not enough daal at their home.

This was far from the only time the superstar referred to his humble origins. In 2011, in an emotional interaction with fans who had gathered outside of his mansion, Mannat to celebrate his birthday, he revealed that he hailed from a lower middle-class family and he often did not have the money to purchase a birthday cake or throw big parties.

“I come from a lower middle-class family; we couldn’t afford to celebrate on a birthday by throwing a big party. I never had money to buy a cake. Till today, I try to keep my birthday as simple as possible. I feel overwhelmed that my fans all over the world celebrate this day with so much of joy,” he told his fans.


As per reports, Khan’s father, Mir Taj Mohammed Khan, was a businessman who ran several ventures, including a restaurant, and the family lived a middle-class lifestyle in rented apartments. His mother was a magistrate.

Khan's first major role was in Lekh Tandon's television series Dil Dariya, which started filming in 1988. However, due to production delays, his television debut was in the Raj Kumar Kapoor-directed series Fauji in 1989. June 1992 saw the release of his first motion picture, Deewana. He played the second male lead, following Rishi Kapoor, alongside Divya Bharti. Khan's Bollywood career began with the box office success of Deewana. His "antihero" parts in Darr and Baazigar also made him a household name. But it was the love drama Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) that made him the ultimate romantic hero.

As per the Hurun Global Rich list, SRK’s networth is a staggering $1.3 billion (approximately Rs 10,800 crore).