After graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics, he started his career appearing in theatre and several television serials in the late 1980s and later made his Hindi film debut in 1992 with Deewana. Early in his career, Khan was recognised for his unconventional choice of portraying negative roles in films such as Darr (1993), Baazigar (1993), and Anjaam (1994). He later rose to prominence by playing a series of romantic roles in the films Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995)., Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998). The commercial success of these films earned him the tag of "the King of Romance". Khan then subsequently earned wide critical appreciation for his portrayal of a NASA scientist in Swades (2004), a hockey coach in Chak De! India (2007), and as the titular character in My Name Is Khan (2010).[10][11] 12 of the films he has acted in, have accumulated gross earnings of over 100 crore (US$18 million) worldwide, making him one of the most successful leading actors of Hindi cinema.