Mishu magic

Khan, who was born in the western Indian city of Mumbai, where Bollywood studios are located, began his career as a child actor in 1973.

"When I fall in love with the story" is how he gets drawn to a film script, Khan said at the same Beijing event.

Wearing a nose pin and ear rings while on his third China visit, his fans also caught a glimpse of Khan's look for his next venture, Thugs of Hindostan, which is expected to be released in November. The Hindi film is based on a book by an English author about a band of bandits challenging British rule in India in the 19th century.

The actor's local publicists did not respond to China Daily's request for an interview.

In 2011, Khan's work first got major attention from Chinese moviegoers with Three Idiots, which was released in India much earlier. A statement on India's orthodox education system, with parallels in China, the Hindi film resonated with the local audience. Film critics and fans alike recommended it to their friends.

The film also triggered an interest in China for Khan's youth-centric cinema.

Some film critics say the education systems, gender discrimination and domestic violence (that Secret Superstar shows) are among perceived similarities of social issues in India and China.