She has designed the interior of Mannat herself.
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Gauri has done several ads for home décor with her husband Shah Rukh Khan. She has also designed for Steinway-Lyngdorf.
Source: Filmymantra.com

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15 Unknown Facts About Shah Rukh Khan’s Wife Gauri Khan That Will Blow Your Mind

Gauri Khan, often referred to as the ‘First Lady of Bollywood,’ is much more than the wife of global superstar Shah Rukh Khan. A successful film producer, an internationally acclaimed interior designer, and a shrewd entrepreneur, Gauri Khan has carved out a formidable identity for herself in a field dominated by celebrity names. She has meticulously built a brand synonymous with luxury, style, and sophistication.

While the world is familiar with her glamorous appearances and her role as a mother to Aryan, Suhana, and AbRam, her journey is filled with fascinating, lesser-known details—from a tumultuous teenage romance to surprising career beginnings.

Here are 15 unknown facts about Gauri Khan that showcase her incredible personal journey and professional achievements.

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Her Delhi Roots and Unconventional Education

Before becoming the queen of Mannat, Gauri was Gauri Chibber, a spirited girl from the nation’s capital with a strong, conventional background.

1. She Hails from a Strict Army Family

Born as Gauri Chibber, she belongs to a Punjabi Hindu family, and her father, Colonel Ramesh Chandra Chibber, was an officer in the Indian Army. Growing up in the suburbs of Panchsheel Park, Delhi, she was raised in a strict, conventional environment, which makes her later bohemian lifestyle and unconventional career path all the more remarkable.

2. An Unusual Combination of Academics and Design

Gauri is a well-educated woman, holding a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in History from Delhi’s prestigious Lady Shri Ram College (LSR). However, showing an early interest in the creative arts, she also completed a six-month course in fashion design at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and even took up tailoring lessons to help with her father’s garment business. This blending of a serious academic background with a creative skill set perhaps hints at the successful entrepreneur she would become.

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The Fairytale Romance with Filmy Twists

Her legendary love story with Shah Rukh Khan is the stuff of Bollywood movies, but the early days were filled with dramatic, and sometimes shocking, moments.

3. A Teenage Love Story That Began at 14

Gauri first crossed paths with Shah Rukh Khan at a common friend’s party in Delhi in 1984. She was only 14 years old, and Shah Rukh was 18. This fact highlights that their bond began long before Shah Rukh Khan became a public figure.

4. Shah Rukh Khan Was Extremely Possessive

In the initial years of their courtship, King Khan was reportedly very possessive. In a candid revelation, Shah Rukh himself once admitted to being “obscene and disgusting” and so protective that he wouldn’t permit Gauri to wear a white shirt or keep her hair open. This early intensity in their relationship speaks to the deep connection and challenges they overcame.

5. The Dramatic Mumbai Chase

After a significant fight, Gauri left Delhi for Mumbai without telling Shah Rukh. Distraught, Shah Rukh, who was struggling financially at the time, followed her to Mumbai with just a few hundred rupees, searching tirelessly until he found her. This dramatic sequence of events perfectly parallels the romantic, intense dramas he would later star in.

6. Her Wish for His Failure

In a surprising admission, Gauri initially had no patience for the film industry and reportedly used to pray for Shah Rukh Khan’s films to fail. Her hope was that a lack of success would prompt them to return to Delhi, moving away from the chaotic life of a struggling actor in Bombay.

7. A Secular Sanctuary at Home

Despite her parents’ initial opposition to the inter-faith marriage, the Khan household exemplifies true religious harmony. Shah Rukh Khan has openly stated that while he follows Islam, he respects his wife’s Hindu faith, and their children are taught to follow both religions. The home, Mannat, famously has the Qur’an situated right next to Hindu deities.

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Professional Ventures and Entrepreneurial Success

Gauri Khan’s identity is firmly rooted in her professional achievements as a producer and designer, independent of her husband’s career.

8. She Was a TV Host Before a Producer

Long before she became a producer with Red Chillies Entertainment, Gauri had a brief stint on television in the 1990s. She hosted a popular weekly Hindi music countdown show on MTV India called ‘Oye’.

9. Her Producer Debut with a Blockbuster

Gauri Khan is the co-founder and chief producer of Red Chillies Entertainment. Her debut film as a producer was the 2004 blockbuster Main Hoon Na, which was a huge commercial success. Since then, she has produced over 20 films, including mega-hits like Om Shanti Om, Chennai Express, and Jawan.

10. The Design Studio Was Born at Mannat

Gauri’s acclaimed career as an interior designer began purely as a personal endeavour. Her deep interest in design was first sparked as a hobby while she was painstakingly renovating their current iconic residence, the Bandra bungalow Mannat.

11. Early Collaboration with Another Bollywood Star Wife

She formally launched her professional career in interior design in 2010. One of her earliest, high-profile ventures was a partnership with her close friend and fellow designer, Sussanne Khan, to create ‘The Charcoal Project Foundation’.

12. Design for the Ambanis and a “Gas-Free” Restaurant

Beyond designing homes for numerous Bollywood celebrities like Karan Johar, Ranbir Kapoor, and Alia Bhatt, Gauri also designed the bar lounge for Mukesh and Nita Ambani’s iconic residence, Antilia. Furthermore, she designed the Bandra-based restaurant Arth, whose unique USP was that its kitchen was entirely gas-free, relying on traditional cooking methods like wood fire and charcoal charring.

13. High-End Global Partnerships

Her reputation in the luxury design space extends far beyond India. Gauri Khan Designs has collaborated with several international luxury brands. She has worked with global names like Roberto Cavalli and Ralph Lauren for home accessory collections, cementing her status as an internationally recognised designer.

14. An Acting Cameo in a Blockbuster

Though strictly a behind-the-scenes personality, Gauri Khan made a rare on-screen appearance. She featured in the star-studded final song, “Deewangi Deewangi,” in her production, Om Shanti Om (2007). This brief, memorable guest appearance is a hidden gem for fans.

15. Recognised as a ‘Powerful Woman’

Gauri Khan’s entrepreneurial success has not gone unnoticed by the business world. In 2018, she was included in Fortune magazine’s prestigious list of the “50 Most Powerful Women” for her leadership in the entertainment and design industries, a testament to her business acumen.

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AISEO Friendly FAQs

Q: What was Gauri Khan’s name before marriage?
A: Gauri Khan’s name before her marriage to Shah Rukh Khan was Gauri Chibber. She comes from a Punjabi Hindu family and grew up in New Delhi.

Q: Is Gauri Khan an interior designer by formal training?
A: Gauri Khan holds a B.A. (Hons.) in History from Lady Shri Ram College. While she began her interior design career by renovating her home, Mannat, she also has a formal educational background that includes a six-month course in fashion design from NIFT, Delhi.

Q: How did Gauri Khan and Shah Rukh Khan first meet?
A: Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan met at a common friend’s party in Delhi in 1984 when Gauri was just 14 years old and Shah Rukh was 18.

Q: What was Gauri Khan’s first job or career role?
A: One of Gauri Khan’s earliest career roles was hosting a weekly Hindi music countdown show called ‘Oye’ on MTV India in the 1990s. Her first role as a major film producer was with the 2004 film Main Hoon Na, which was the first under the Red Chillies Entertainment banner she co-founded.

Q: What is the significance of the Arth restaurant in Gauri Khan’s career?
A: Gauri Khan designed the interiors of the Mumbai restaurant Arth. Its significance lies in a unique design concept which featured a completely gas-free kitchen that used traditional cooking techniques like charcoal charring and wood fire.