Offering what fans consider the "epitome of romance", Shah Rukh Khan has been featured in many romantic interludes on film. One of the most famous is from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), where he dances with Kajol in a gazebo during a rainstorm. It is so much a part of Bollywood legend that the music from this scene has been incorporated into other Bollywood songs and the scene itself was mimicked in the 2008 film Dostana with John Abraham and Priyanka Chopra.
Shah Rukh Khan's focus on his leading ladies makes them more desirable and makes the item number more enjoyable. If you are new to Bollywood, here are 5 romantic item numbers featuring this hero:
1. "Suraj Hua Maddham"
Film: Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001) | Drama
The story so far: Rahul Raichand (Shah Rukh Khan) is the son of a rich businessman. Anjali Sharma (Kajol) is the daughter of a sweet shop owner. They become friends and their friendship turns to love. When Rahul confirms his love for her, they begin to imagine how the other would fit in their different worlds.
Why I love this number: The scene tranforms from a bustling neighborhood in Chandni Chowk to the Great Pyramids in Egypt. The juxtaposition of our passionate lovers, dressed in rich colors, against the intimacy of the music and the soft palette of nature is striking. The inclusion of a snippet from "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" reminds you that something is happening with this jodi.
Singers: Alka Yagnik, Sonu Nigam
Composer: Sandesh Shandilya
Lyricist: Anil Pandey
Choreographer: Farah Khan
2. "Roshani Se"
Film: Asoka (2001) | Epic historical drama
The story so far: At the urging of his mother, Prince Asôka has left his kingdom to wander as a common man. He ends up in Kalinga where he meets Princess Kaurwaki (Kareena Kapoor) who is in hiding after the assassination of her parents. They fall in love and secretly marry but they are soon separated and when he tries to find her he is told she is dead. Though he is devastated, he continues to dream of Kaurwaki.
Why I love this number: The low drumbeat of this song carries you forward through a magical, mystical, and sometimes bewildering,waking dream in which time seems to reverse so Asôka can be with his Kaurwaki again. The intimacy between Asôka and Kaurwaki is matched by the music and the private natural sanctum in which we find them.
Singers: Abhijeet, Alka Yagnik
Composer: Anu Malik
Lyricist: Gulzar
Choreographer: Geeta Kapoor
3. "Tumhe Jo Maine Dekha"
Film: Main Hoon Na (2004) | Action Thriller Comedy Drama
The story so far: Indian Army Major Ram Prasad Sharma (Shah Rukh Khan) goes back to college as a student in order to protect Sanjana Bakshi (Amrita Rao) and to find his long lost brother Lakshman Prasad Sharma (Zayed Khan). While there he meets and falls in love with the beautiful chemistry professor, Chandni (Sushmita Sen).
Why I love this number: While romantic love is what we expect in any love story, such love often starts with a bit of adoration. In this item number, Sharma begins as a love-struck student but ends as a romantic leading man. This is a joyful homage to what it feels like to fall in love. I'm sure Major Sharma got an "A" in Chemistry that year.
Singers: Abhijeet Bhattacharya & Shreya Ghoshal
Composer: Anu Malik
Lyricist: Javed Akhtar
Choreographer: Farah Khan
4. "Main Yahaan Hoon"
Film: Veer-Zaara (2004) | Romantic Drama
The story so far: Pakistani girl Zaara Hayat Khan (Preity Zinta) travels to India to fulfill the last request of her grandmother. She meets Squadron Leader Veer Pratap Singh (Shah Rukh Khan), an Indian Army pilot, who helps her travel to her destination. Veer falls in love with Zaara but discovers she is engaged to Raza Sharazi (Manoj Bajpai). They part, but Veer has found a place in Zaara's heart and while she is preparing for her marriage, she cannot stop thinking about him.
Why I love this number: Veer appears as a phantom walking through Zaara's life repeating "I am here", which becomes a haunting love mantra. She imagines him in both her public and very private moments and you can see her struggle as she moves forward through a life she would rather share with Veer, not Raza.
Singer: Udit Narayan
Composer: Madan Mohan, as revised by his son Sanjeev Kohli
Lyricist: Javed Akhtar
Choreographer: Vaibhavi Merchant
5. "Saans"
Film: Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012) | Romantic Drama
The story so far: In London, Meera Thapar (Katrina Kaif) asks Samar Anand (Shah Rukh Khan), a street musician, to teach her a Punjabi song to sing for her father's birthday. As they spend time together they become emotionally involved. Because Meera is engaged and the song has been learned, they stop meeting. But when Meera gets a letter from her mother, she asks for Samar's help one last time. Meera realizes she is in love with Samar and leads him across the line of friendship into love.
Why I love this number: Meera and Samar experience the freedom of finally following their hearts as spend as much time as they can with each other. They play, dance, romance and even get arrested but it doesn't matter because they are hopelessly, helplessly, and thoroughly in love.
Singers: Mohit Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal
Composer: A. R. Rahman
Lyricist: Gulzar
Choreographer: Vaibhavi Merchant
The following video playlist features each of these item numbers.
If you like this post, check out our other Friday Five lists of Bollywood films.