The Indian film industry - or the Hindi cinema fraternity, to be precise - is replete with showmanship and glamour. Bollywood has its fair share of gossip, glitz, talent and, when perfection becomes possible, a film product that is brilliant in its form and exhilarating in its content and style.

And then there are the actors, easily the main attraction. One stands out among the dozens and dozens of crowd-pleasers, though: the effervescent king of celluloid, Shah Rukh Khan.

His name is synonymous with success. He is Mr Bollywood, and in fact has been for the better part of two decades.

Fans of the other heavyweight, the larger-than-life Amitabh Bachchan, may beg to differ. But while Bachchan is a thespian, now finally giving full rein to talents never fully tapped when he ruled Bollywood with populist, cliché-driven films, Shah Rukh is the heartthrob.

Shah Rukh's fame has travelled beyond the shores of India, and not just into the Indian diaspora, but across nationalities, including to China and to Thailand, where he is fondly called "Bombay Bird" because of his perceived resemblance to singer Thongchai "Bird" McIntyre.

He remains a man firmly grounded in reality, though, eschewing the trappings of fame to lead a normal life with his kids and wife Gauri.

Says a close friend of the dashing actor, "Shah Rukh's priority at the moment are his children. Nothing ever comes between him and his kids. In fact, however busy he may be, he makes it a point to drop off his son Aryan at school every morning, rather than have the chauffeur drive him, which most other celebrities are wont to do."

Shah Rukh was recently shooting at Mumbai's Film City - both for a new movie and the popular game show "Kaun Banega Crorepati" ("Who Will Become a Millionaire?"). He's hosting the TV show's second edition; Bachchan compered the first.

Despite the hectic schedule, Shah Rukh agreed to meet my wife and I. When he heard that my wife, who is Chinese, was a huge fan, he was intrigued and undoubtedly happy.

We got together over a two-hour-plus lunch, not necessarily talking to him, since this wasn't supposed to be an interview. It struck me that the public perception of this amiable man is so at odds with the reality.

Shah Rukh is commonly thought to be arrogant, his success based more on internal industry barter than acting talent. So it was a pleasant surprise to find him cultured, warm-hearted, caring and honest.

Not once did we get the feeling that we were in the presence of India's most formidable asset - King Khan, as he is known - a man who has charmed a generation of movie buffs with his antics on and off the screen. Instead, the loving father, the amiable co-star and the generous host were on display.

For more than a few moments it was hard to believe that we were face to face with Shah Rukh Khan.

His latest foray into television has him excited. "This is a perfect chance for me to meet with the common man," Shah Rukh said by way of explanation. But he has a tough act to follow: Bachchan's season was a runaway hit. Still, Shah Rukh remains unfazed.

"My show will be my own. I don't want to compare it with Mr Bachchan's. I will give it my own touch and hopefully the people will accept it and take me to heart."

Whether "Kaun Banega Crorepati" rakes in the ratings or simpers on the idiot box, when we left him (or rather when Shah Rukh bid us adieu), there was this fleeting feeling that we had just met one of the most loveable, enduring and down-to-earth human beings.

A star that shines brightly, not only illuminating the lives of his legions of fans but also making sure that he stays in orbit without blinding others with his light.

A true man of the masses, Shah Rukh indeed is the quintessential Gentleman of Bollywood.

Lancy P Correa

 Special to The Nation