Meet Bangladesh's superstar Shakib Khan: The King of drama, romance and reinvention

If cinema in Bangladesh or Dhallywood had a superhero, he’d be wearing aviators, a flashy panjabi and answering to one name: Shakib.

Born Masud Rana Sheikh in 1979 in sleepy Gopalganj, this boy-next-door morphed into the undisputed “King Khan” of Bangladeshi cinema – and he’s been ruling the silver screen with the swagger of a man who knows his mark is dead center.

Shakib’s journey began in 1999 with Ananta Bhalobasha.

Two decades and 250-plus films later, his filmography reads like a greatest hits playlist of romance, revenge and larger-than-life heroes.

Titles like Priya Amar Priya, Number One Shakib Khan, Boss Number One and King Khan didn’t just smash box offices – they basically set them on fire. By the mid-2000s, his posters were everywhere, his dialogue was being mimicked by kids in playgrounds, and the industry had found its ultimate crowd-puller.

This man isn’t just a movie star. He’s a walking franchise. With four National Film Awards, eight Meril Prothom Alo Awards, and an army of fans that worship his every dance move, Shakib became the guy producers pray for and critics can’t ignore. He’s also a producer, singer (because, why not?), and president of the Bangladesh Film Artists Association. Basically, he’s Dhaka’s own one-man entertainment industry.

What makes him such a deliciously watchable star? Maybe it’s the way he slips between roles – one moment he’s the wronged lover fighting injustice, the next he’s a lover boy whose biggest weapon is his own hair flip. Or maybe it’s the sheer joy of watching someone go full throttle into every cliché and come out shining.

Offscreen, the drama continues. Shakib has been married (twice), divorced (twice), become a dad (twice), and kept tabloids buzzing in between Eid releases. His fanbase doesn’t mind – for them, he’s part fantasy, part reality, and all charisma. Even controversies – and there have been plenty – just add to his legend.

If you’ve never seen a Shakib Khan film, imagine a high-octane soap opera mixed with a music video, topped with heroic poses that defy the laws of physics. And yet, underneath all that glitter, there’s genuine skill: watch Swatta (2017) if you need proof that the man can act when the script allows him to.

In 2025, Shakib remains the undisputed heartbeat of Bangladeshi cinema. The box office bends to him, directors build films around him, and audiences can’t get enough of his brand of unapologetic entertainment. Love him or roll your eyes, Dhallywood without Shakib Khan? Please, that’s like biryani without the meat – simply unimaginable.