Adding yet another feature to his cap, Bollywood legend Shah Rukh Khan has ranked first in Time Magazine’s TIME100 Reader Poll.
Who he surpassed
Readers of the magazine voted for the personalities they believe deserve recognition on the iconic annual list of the world’s most influential people.
Khan ranked above the likes of Oscar-winning actor Michelle Yeoh, athlete Serena Williams, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
He won after earning 4% of the 1.2 million votes in total that were cast.
Back with a bang
Throughout a storied career spanning decades, Khan starred in over 100 films.
He made his comeback after an absence of 4 years with Pathaan in Jan 2023, a blockbuster which broke all sorts of records in the Indian film industry.
Registering a major comeback to the industry, the movie has earned over Rs 1000 crore worldwide.
Other ventures
He also occupies other roles in the industry, such as that of a film producer.
His latest production venture was the 2022 film Darlings, that he co-produced with the film’s lead actress Alia Bhatt.
He also has a strong presence in Indian commercial cricket as co-owner of one of the OG teams in the IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders.
He will next be seen in Atlee’s Jawan with Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupathi.
He is also slated to star in Rajkumar Hirani’s Dunki along with Taapsee Pannu, which is also slated to release this year.
Women of Iran
At second spot were Iranian women protesting for freedom from the country’s draconian and stifling Islamic regime, garnering 3 per cent of all votes.
Their movement was triggered by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iran’s morality police who had detained her last September.
The authorities said she didn’t properly cover her hair with the mandatory Islamic headscarf hijab.
She collapsed at a police station and died three days later.
The Iranian women were also recognised in TIME’s 2022 Heroes of the Year and also won last year’s Person of the Year reader poll.
They were followed by health care workers, who came in third with a total of 2% of the vote from the readers.
Harry and Meghan
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan earned about 1.9% of the vote and ranked 4th.
The 38-year-old Duke of Sussex made headlines this January after the release of his tell-all autobiography memoir “Spare” in which he shared details of the inner workings of the British monarchy.
Lionel Messi
Football legend Lionel Messi who finally won his first world cup as part of Argentina after defeating France last year in Qatar earned 1.8% of the vote and secured the 5th spot.
He secured the World Cup victory at his record-equalling fifth attempt.
The outlet will announce the final entrants in the 2023 TIME100 list on April 13.
