LONDON: Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan was yesterday conferred the honorary Doctorate in Arts and Culture by a leading British university for his "exceptional achievement" in the field of entertainment and media. At a glittering investiture ceremony held at Washington Mayfare, a hotel owned by NRI entrepreneur Joginder Singh Sangar, the Bollywood heartthrob was conferred the Doctorate by Professor Les Ebdon, Vice Chancellor of the Bedfordshire University.

Receiving the honour, Shahrukh said, "Today I feel that I am a part of the illustrious alumni of this prestigious university. I look forward to doing my bit in providing necessary assistance to the deserving children for higher education in my university".


Shahrukh, who got quite emotional at the function, said "while this honour is bestowed on me, I wonder, if the deserving but poor and under privileged children from India can also pursue their higher education in such university and may earn a doctorate as well". The citation read in the University "confer the honorary Doctorate of Art to Shahrukh Khan in recognition of his exceptional achievement as the film actor and producer".


Khan who has a huge fan base across the globe started his career in the late 1980s with television serials. "He made his film debut in the commercially successful ''Diwana'' in 1992 and since then has gone on to play a variety of critically acclaimed roles, the citation read.