Shah Rukh Khan's Lookalike Charges 2.5 Lakh per Event
Ibrahim Qadri. Photo: Collected
The comeback of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has not only given new momentum to his own career or Bollywood's business but has also transformed the lives of many people who resemble him. Among them, the most talked-about name is Ibrahim Qadri, who is now widely known as "Duplicate Shah Rukh."
In 2023, Shah Rukh Khan dominated the box office with Pathaan, Jawan, and later Dunki. Notably, Jawan set a record for the highest opening day collection in the history of Hindi cinema, earning 75 crore rupees on its first day. The renewed frenzy surrounding Shah Rukh Khan also impacted the lives of artists who look like him. Topping that list is Ibrahim Qadri.
A resident of Junagadh in Gujarat, India, Ibrahim Qadri has been told since childhood that he closely resembles Shah Rukh Khan. In a recent interview, he recalled, "Ever since I was 15 or 16 years old, everyone used to call me Shah Rukh Khan. I heard the same thing while studying in school and college."
However, his life was not glamorous initially. To support his family, he used to paint walls, create hoardings, and paint shop signboards. Ibrahim mentioned, "We didn't have much at home. Whatever I earned would go toward food and paying bills."
A major change came in 2017 after the release of Shah Rukh's film Raees. At that time, his appearance, including his mustache and beard, closely resembled Shah Rukh's look in Raees. According to Ibrahim, "People would go crazy seeing us. My recognition on social media began to grow. Followers increased. When I went to different places, people would scream, cry, and even pull and grab at me. Initially, I didn't understand how to handle all this."
Once, while watching a cricket match at Rajkot's Khandheri Stadium, he was trapped in a crowd of fans for nearly two hours. The police had to intervene to control the situation. After that incident, Ibrahim began taking his resemblance seriously.
He said, "After that, I started working on my physique, styling, and even dancing. I didn't know how to dance before. I started watching Shah Rukh's movies not just for entertainment but also for learning. I have tried to give reality to how people want to see me."
Currently, Ibrahim performs as Shah Rukh Khan at birthdays, weddings, and various corporate events. While SRK impersonators once received fees of 2,000 to 5,000 rupees per event, Ibrahim now charges between 1.5 lakh and 2.5 lakh rupees per event.
On this matter, he commented, "Many people call me duplicate, lookalike, or copycat. It used to hurt at first. Now I believe that imitation is also an art. I am not a cheap version. I have created a standard. Now people are happy to pay that price."
Interestingly, Ibrahim has not yet attempted to meet Shah Rukh Khan himself, the man he so closely resembles. Explaining the reason, he said, "Meeting Shah Rukh is like a dream of a flying car for me. I don't want to lose the thrill that exists in dreaming."
Currently 49 years old, Ibrahim remains unmarried. He stated, "I never consider myself old. I play with children, I laugh. That keeps me young. I have told my family to wait. I still want to enjoy this journey."
Just as Shah Rukh Khan's popularity has won the hearts of millions of fans, the uncanny resemblance to his face has radically transformed the life of an ordinary man. Ibrahim Qadri's story stands as an exceptional example of that reality.
