Has Shah Rukh Khan finally become an actor?

With Chak De India, has Shah Rukh Khan finally become an actor, rather than a star?

Shah Rukh Khan typically fills the movie screen, whether he's laughing or crying, singing or fighting. As we watch him play everything from a terrorist to a love rat, we remember, every moment, that he is Shah Rukh Khan. We know that smile well, that smouldering look, that tear racing down the cheek, that half-snarl – even that energetic dance routine. All quintessentially SRK.

Beautifully styled, with mannerisms that feature in every stand-up comic's routine (K-K-K-K-Kiran, to name just one), he has always been King Khan, superstar. Always a presence, never really the character.

But now, with Chak De India, Shah Rukh has finally grown up. In this inspirational film he is the true inspiration. Shah Rukh plays a disgraced hockey captain who pulls himself out of the shadows to coach a woman's hockey team. His love-them-push-them-praise-them-bully-them formula works to spectacular success.

Team India wins the world championship – and Shah Rukh is likely to win every possible Indian film award this year.
Because, when you watch the film, you actually forget he is Shah Rukh. He truly becomes Kabir Khan, coach, Team India. He spends most of the film in grubby tracksuits and a rough beard. Hockey – and the girls – remains firmly in the foreground. At no point does Shah Rukh – or the script – attempt to take away the attention.

This is probably Shah Rukh's finest hour. The film may not run as long as Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. It may not get women sobbing like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kal Ho Naa Ho. It does something less dramatic, but longer lasting.
It makes us realise that Shah Rukh Khan can really act – and he doesn't need a big budget, big director or big heroine to do that.

Just one question: Will Shah Rukh experiment more now, or will he go back to playing the star?