Hakla Meme Trend: Shah Rukh Khan, Bollywood Rivalries, and Internet Controversy Explained

What is the “Hakla” Meme and Why Does It Matter?

In late 2025, the “Hakla” meme took the Indian internet by storm. Centered around Shah Rukh Khan’s famous stutter from the 1993 film Darr, this meme became viral across Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and more. But this was no ordinary meme — it sparked debates about internet humor, speech disorders, Bollywood fan wars, and meme culture itself.

The image featured above has become one of the most recognizable visuals associated with the “Hakla” meme trend, widely circulated across social media platforms during its viral rise in 2025.

This blog covers everything you need to know about the Hakla meme: its origin, rise to popularity, social and cultural impact, formats, and the controversies around it.

What is the Origin of the “Hakla” Meme?

Shah Rukh Khan’s Iconic Stutter in Darr (1993)

In Darr, Shah Rukh Khan’s character Rahul repeatedly says:

“K-k-k-Kiran.”

The stutter was a deliberate choice to depict an obsessive and psychologically unstable lover. While the original intent was serious, the dialogue gained popularity due to its distinct delivery.

From Dialogue to Meme: How Did the “Hakla” Term Emerge?

The word “Hakla” means stammer or stutter in Hindi. Over years, the stuttered dialogue became a catchphrase — first in film fan circles, then in comedy sketches and mimicry shows.

Eventually, social media users started using “Hakla” as a nickname for SRK, detaching the stutter from the original film context and turning it into a meme meant to poke fun at the actor’s speech.

The 2025 Resurgence: What Sparked the Viral Explosion?

Abhijeet Bhattacharya’s Interview

In late 2024, singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya publicly revealed that industry insiders used to call Shah Rukh Khan “Hakla” behind his back during the early 2000s. He said:

“Tu us hakle ke liye gaa raha hai?” (You’re singing for that stammerer?)

This statement gave the meme a real-world connection and reignited viral interest. Memes flooded social media, hashtags trended, and debates erupted about the meme’s ethical implications.

How Social Media Amplified the Meme

• Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts: Short clips with exaggerated stammer sound effects. 
• Twitter/X: Viral hashtags like #HaklaKhan, sparking discussions and jokes. 
• Reddit: Analytical threads debating the meme’s impact. 
• Meme Pages: Sharing image macros, remixes, and parodies. 

Why Is the “Hakla” Meme So Popular?

Meme Culture’s Love for Roasting Celebrities

Easy to Use and Recognize

• The “k-k-k-Kiran” stutter is simple and easy to imitate. 
• Memes using the sound or visuals are easy to create. 

Fits Perfectly in Internet Roasting Culture

• The internet loves to poke fun at celebrities. 
• “Hakla” became a perfect nickname for roasting SRK. 

Perfect Fuel for Bollywood Fan Wars

• Rival fans use the meme as ammo to troll SRK and his fans. 
• Fueled massive engagement and shares on social media. 

Formats and Variations of the Hakla Meme

• Video Edits: GIF, Clips from Darr with added sound effects or slow motion emphasizing the stutter. 
• Image Macros: Pictures of SRK captioned with “Hakla Superstar” or “Bollywood ka Hakla.” 
• Audio Remixes: Looping and distorting the “k-k-k” sound. 
• Tweets and Comments: Using “hakla” humorously or sarcastically in conversations. 
• Mashups: Mixed with other meme trends for creative variations.

The Role of Fan Rivalries in Boosting the Meme

Bollywood fans have always been competitive, and memes are their main weapons. The “Hakla” meme quickly became a favorite tool for trolling SRK by rival fanbases, especially fans of Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, and others. This intensified meme sharing and virality.

The Debate on Offensive Content

Some say the meme mocks speech disorders or is in poor taste. But internet humor thrives on savage jokes and doesn’t always follow political correctness. The “Hakla” meme is part of this tradition — brutal, catchy, and unrelenting.

Final Thoughts: The “Hakla” Meme Is Here to Stay

The “Hakla” meme perfectly shows how the internet picks tiny moments and turns them into massive viral trends. It’s simple, savage, and ridiculously catchy. Love it or hate it, this meme is one of the biggest viral phenomena of 2025 and will keep entertaining (and roasting) people for a long time.

While roasting and trolling public figures is an inevitable part of internet meme culture and online banter, it is absolutely crucial to understand that mocking or making memes about someone’s real, personal struggles or challenges is deeply wrong and unacceptable. Humor must never come at the expense of genuine pain or hardship. True respect lies in knowing the limits—where playful teasing ends and hurtful mockery begins.

Image Credit: Hakla Meme / Edited by someone on the internet (identity still unknown )