Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan won the TIME100 reader poll this year, making him the most influential person globally.
The TIME100 reader poll is an annual event in which ‘TIME’ magazine asks its readers to vote for the most influential people in the world. Khan's win reflects his popularity and influence not only in India but also worldwide. He got the top spot overtaking the likes of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Hollywood actor Michelle Yeoh, and athlete Serena Williams, earning 4 per cent of the 1.2 million total votes.
Shah Rukh Khan, a.k.a. “King of Bollywood”, is described by the American news magazine as one of the most prominent and influential actors in the Indian film industry. Born in New Delhi in 1965, Khan began his career on television before making his debut in the film 'Deewana' in 1992. The actor became Bollywood's favourite romantic hero, starring in blockbusters like 'Dilwale Dulhania le Jayenge' and 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai'. His career spans over three decades, starring in more than 100 films. His most recent release, 'Pathaan' in January, is one of the year's top-grossing films, collecting nearly $130 million worldwide so far.
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He has received numerous awards for his work, including 14 Filmfare Awards and a Padma Award from the Government of India for his philanthropic works. He is also the co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders, a franchise in the Indian Premier League, and has been actively involved in promoting sports in India.
The second position of the poll ranking has gone to the Iranian women protesting for greater freedoms from the country's Islamic regime, garnering 3 per cent of the vote. The protesters took to the streets of cities of Iran following the killing of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini by the country's 'morality police' last September for allegedly wearing her headscarf too loosely.
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Third and fourth place went to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, each earning about 1.9 per cent of the vote. Prince Harry made headlines in January after the release of his memoir Spare, which unfolds monumental moments like Princess Diana's death in 1997 to Queen Elizabeth II's death in September 2022.
*Info: TIME100 Reader Poll