Ladies first: Shah Rukh Khan

On International Women’s Day, Shah Rukh Khan will be making an announcement that would make the entertainment world sit and salute the King for his gracious conduct. On March 8, Shah Rukh will declare to the world that henceforth in all his films the heroine’s name would appear ahead of him in the credit titles. It wouldn’t matter whether the leading lady is senior or junior to SRK. From this day onwards, ladies’ first in all the credit titles of King Khan’s films.

This initiative and the endeavour to give women a prominent place in the entertainment industry, would be enunciated in a short film that Shah Rukh has shot with R Balki for International Women’s Day. Says Balki,“Yes, it’s absolutely true! Shah Rukh will go on film this Women’s Day to declare that his heroines’ names would appear before his name in the credit titles of all his films.” Apparently, Balki and the team behind the film came up with the idea of credit-line priority for women in Shah Rukh’s film and the superstar was game for it. Says Balki appreciatively, “Shah Rukh didn’t hesitate for even a second. He immediately agreed to the idea of henceforth allowing his leading ladies the right to go first in the credit titles.”

Though revolutionary in the present day context  of male-centric entertainment in Hindi cinema, the leading lady’s name appearing before the hero is not unknown. In the films
starring Meena Kumari and Dharmendra her  name preceded his name in the credit titles.

Some films featuring Mala Sinha with either Biswajeet or Sanjay Khan also featured the leading lady’s name first. Nanda also got first billing in her films with Shashi Kapoor and Rajesh Khanna. However, these exceptions to the patriarchal rule were made in deference to the actress’ seniority. For a leading man to agree to let his co-star’s name appear first in all his films is unprecedented and laudatory.