Shah Rukh Khan wins honorary doctorate at IFFM; becomes only actor to have 5 doctorates

Shah Rukh Khan, also known as the Badshah of Bollywood, is one of the most popular actors in the whole world. He remains the only actor in the world to have been awarded five doctorates by the most prestigious universities of the world.

After receiving four honorary doctorates, King Khan is being awarded another doctorate by the University of La Trobe, Australia. The announcement was made during Shah Rukh Khan’s visit to La Trobe University as the chief guest of the 2019 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. La Trobe is the first Australian University to award Shah Rukh Khan with an Honorary Degree, Doctor of Letters (honoris causa). It was in recognition of his wide-ranging humanitarian work, including establishing the Meer Foundation to support and empower women who have survived acid attacks in India.

“I experienced firsthand the superficiality of social values that place a woman’s appearance before her inner worth. I wanted to subvert that idea – to create a space where a woman can be freed of these archaic notions, and the true source of her beauty could be celebrated,” the actor said during his speech.

Explaining the heart of his work at Meer Foundation, the actor said, “A man had thrown acid on a woman, and she shared a lovely thing with me. She said, ‘He wanted me defeated in life, but I’m never defeated if I don’t decide to lose to him.’ That has become the mantra of my life.”

In honour of the actor, the university also announced a four year $200,000 research scholarship for a yet-to-be-determined female Indian candidate.

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