After refusing the role that subsequently went to Anil Kapoor in Danny Boyle 's '' Slumdog Millionaire '' ( 2008 ) , Khan began shooting '' My Name Is Khan '' ( 2010 ) , his fourth collaboration with director Karan Johar and his sixth with Kajol . The film is based on a true story and set against the backdrop of perceptions of Islam after the 11 September attacks . Khan plays Rizwan Khan , a Muslim suffering from mild Asperger syndrome who sets out on a journey across America to meet the country 's president , in a role that film scholar Stephen Teo sees as a " symbol of assertive rasa values " and another example of Khan representing NRI identity in global Bollywood . To provide an accurate portrayal of a sufferer without disparagement , Khan spent several months researching his role by reading books , watching videos and talking to people affected by the condition . Upon release , '' My Name is Khan '' became one of the highest grossing Bollywood films of all time outside India , and earned Khan his eighth Filmfare Award for Best Actor , equalling the record for the most wins in the category with actor Dilip Kumar . Jay Wesissberg from '' Variety '' noted how Khan portrayed the Asperger 's sufferer with " averted eyes , springy steps , and stuttered repetitions of memorized texts " , believing it to have been a " standout performance sure to receive the Autism Society 's gold seal of approval "
11 September attacks
September 11 attacks
Shah Rukh Khan